Disney Invests $1 Billion in OpenAI, to License Its Characters for Sora

Disney surprised many today by announcing a $1 billion investment in OpenAI. Beyond the investment itself, Disney also revealed that it will license its characters for use with OpenAI’s video generation service, Sora.

With this move, Sora users are expected to be able to generate images and videos featuring Disney-owned characters starting in 2026, including franchises from Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar.

In addition, Disney will also tap into OpenAI’s technology and expertise to develop new products and improve user experiences across its ecosystem. Disney has previously expressed interest in integrating generative features into its Disney+ streaming service, and this partnership and investment are set to play a key role in making that possible.

With this development, it remains to be seen whether Disney’s bet on OpenAI will prove to be the right move, or if it could have long-term implications for the strength of its brands and the content created under them.