Disney's first CTO led an AI startup it once accused of copying its characters
News Source
β’Fri, 18 Sep 2026 17:59:53 +0000
π° What Happened
Disney has hired its first-ever chief technology officer. The new CTO is Karandeep Anand, former CEO of Character.AI. That is the same startup Disney accused in September 2025 of using its characters without permission.
Character.AI lets people create virtual characters with AI and chat with them. Disney sent the company a cease-and-desist letter. It claimed the site hosted copyrighted characters from Disney shows and films. The AI firm has also faced lawsuits over its chatbots.
Variety reported that Disney's new CEO, Josh D'Amaro, chose Anand. D'Amaro took over after Bob Iger stepped down in March. The hire suggests Disney wants to move faster on new technology.
π The Backstory
Character.AI was founded in 2021 and grew quickly with young users who enjoy role-playing with AI characters. Anand worked at Microsoft for 15 years and at Facebook from 2015 to 2021. He was a board adviser at Character.AI before becoming CEO in May 2025.
Disney has been careful about AI but also interested in what it could do for films, parks and games. Hollywood is still debating how AI can be used without breaking copyright law.
π― Why It Matters
A top AI boss joining Disney shows the entertainment industry is warming to AI. It also raises questions about how AI firms and studios will settle copyright fights.
Disney has hired its first-ever chief technology officer. The new CTO is Karandeep Anand, former CEO of Character.AI. That is the same startup Disney accused in September 2025 of using its characters without permission.
Character.AI lets people create virtual characters with AI and chat with them. Disney sent the company a cease-and-desist letter. It claimed the site hosted copyrighted characters from Disney shows and films. The AI firm has also faced lawsuits over its chatbots.
Variety reported that Disney's new CEO, Josh D'Amaro, chose Anand. D'Amaro took over after Bob Iger stepped down in March. The hire suggests Disney wants to move faster on new technology.
Character.AI was founded in 2021 and grew quickly with young users who enjoy role-playing with AI characters. Anand worked at Microsoft for 15 years and at Facebook from 2015 to 2021. He was a board adviser at Character.AI before becoming CEO in May 2025.
Disney has been careful about AI but also interested in what it could do for films, parks and games. Hollywood is still debating how AI can be used without breaking copyright law.
A top AI boss joining Disney shows the entertainment industry is warming to AI. It also raises questions about how AI firms and studios will settle copyright fights.