Disney’s first CTO led an AI startup it once accused of copying its characters

Disney has filled a previously vacant executive role by hiring Karandeep Anand as its first chief technology officer. Anand brings direct experience from the generative AI sector, having served as CEO of Character.AI since May 2025. His background includes prior roles at Facebook and Microsoft, indicating a long tenure in large-scale technology infrastructure.

The appointment is notable because of the recent legal friction between Disney and Anand's former employer. In September 2025, Disney sent Character.AI a cease-and-desist letter, accusing the startup of hosting copyrighted characters from its franchises. Character.AI had also faced separate lawsuits regarding user safety and self-harm allegations, adding a layer of complexity to its corporate history.

The decision to hire Anand was made by Josh D’Amaro, who assumed the CEO role after Bob Iger stepped down in March. This move suggests a deliberate strategy by D’Amaro to embrace new technologies rather than maintain a defensive stance against them. It implies that Disney views the integration of AI as a priority for its future operational model.

For engineers and operators, this signals that Disney is likely to invest in building or scaling internal AI capabilities. The transition from a company that sued an AI startup for IP infringement to one that hires its former CEO suggests a potential change in how Disney approaches intellectual property in the context of generative models. It may indicate a willingness to explore licensed or collaborative AI frameworks rather than purely adversarial legal tactics.