The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI have reached an agreement, making Disney the first major content licensing partner on Sora.
As part of the new three-year licensing agreement, OpenAI’s short-form generative AI video platform Sora will be allowed to generate short, user-prompted social videos that can be viewed and shared by fans. These generated videos will be able to draw from a set of more than 200 animated, masked and creature characters from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars. The content that can be used in production includes costumes, props, vehicles, and Disney environments.
ChatGPT Images will also incorporate Disney character Gen AI and be able to turn simple words and phrases by the user into fully generated images in seconds, drawing from the same Disney IP that can be used with Sora. The agreement with OpenAI stops at IP, though; no talent likenesses, performances or voices will be used in generative content.
Alongside the overarching IP licensing agreement, Disney will become a customer of OpenAI, using its APIs to build new products, tools, and experiences. This includes content for Disney+ and using ChatGPT for its employees. On the OpenAI side of things, Disney will make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI as part of the agreement, and the new partnership for the next three years is “affirming a shared commitment to the responsible use of AI that protects user safety and the rights of creators.”
Disney CEO Bob Iger says, “The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence marks an important moment for our industry, and through this collaboration with OpenAI, we will thoughtfully and responsibly extend the reach of our storytelling through generative AI, while respecting and protecting creators and their works. Bringing together Disney’s iconic stories and characters with OpenAI’s groundbreaking technology puts imagination and creativity directly into the hands of Disney fans in ways we’ve never seen before, giving them richer and more personal ways to connect with the Disney characters and stories they love,” regarding the new agreement.
Open AI CEO Sam Altman agrees with Iger, stating, “This agreement shows how AI companies and creative leaders can work together responsibly to promote innovation that benefits society, respect the importance of creativity, and help works reach vast new audiences,” adding, “Disney is the global gold standard for storytelling, and we’re excited to partner to allow Sora and ChatGPT Images to expand the way people create and experience great content.”
With both parties on the same page and pending board approvals and closing conditions, it appears beloved Disney characters are headed to ChatGPT image rendering and Gen AI video creation with Sora sooner rather than later. Fans will be able to use Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Lilo, Stitch, Ariel, Belle, Beast, Cinderella, Baymax, Simba, Mufasa, as well as characters from the worlds of Encanto, Frozen, Inside Out, Moana, Monsters Inc., Toy Story, Up, Zootopia, and more. Animated or illustrated versions of Marvel and Lucasfilm characters are included, which means yes, Black Panther and The Avengers can also be used in Gen AI.
Now, fans have to wait for when the roster is implemented on OpenAI platforms to get started. The whole agreement posted by OpenAI can be read here in the meantime.
