by Julia Pierrepont III
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Walt Disney Company has entered a landmark agreement with OpenAI, which will bring more than 200 characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars to Sora, OpenAI's generative video platform.
A three-year licensing agreement was announced on Thursday that will allow Sora users, beginning in early 2026, to create short, fan-driven videos featuring iconic heroes, villains, creatures, costumes, and environments from Disney's extensive catalog. The deal also includes a 1-billion-U.S.-dollar equity investment by Disney in OpenAI.
Disney will become a major OpenAI customer, adopting ChatGPT internally for employees and integrating OpenAI APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to build new products, tools and interactive experiences, according to the agreement.
Disney's CEO Bob Iger framed the partnership as a pivotal moment for the whole entertainment industry, noting that technological innovation had always reshaped how stories are told and experienced. He emphasized that Disney intended to expand its storytelling reach through generative AI while protecting creators and maintaining respect for its intellectual property.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for his part described Disney as the "global gold standard for storytelling" and called the collaboration an example of how creative and AI companies can work together responsibly to broaden access to content and inspire new forms of expression.
Amid intensifying disputes between media companies and AI platforms over copyright protections, the deal marks a major turning point in Hollywood's relationship with generative AI as Disney, long known for fiercely protecting its characters and brands, positions itself at the forefront of AI-driven entertainment.
"Companies in every industry are racing to adopt AI tools to boost productivity. Disney is going further than many, however. The OpenAI deal makes Disney the first major entertainment company to invest in the AI juggernaut, and allows its beloved characters to be used in the video generator Sora," Business Insider reported Friday.
Both companies emphasized a shared commitment to responsible AI development. OpenAI agreed to maintain stringent safety systems, age-appropriate policies and other controls to prevent the generation of illegal, harmful, derogatory or infringing content.
Images and voices of the Hollywood stars who embodied these heroes on film are specifically excluded from the deal.
The transaction remains subject to board approvals and standard closing conditions, but once finalized, it will mark the most significant collaboration to date between an AI company and a major Hollywood studio. ■