Disney Explores AI Partnership for User Generated Content on Disney Plus In a recent earnings call, Disney CEO Bob Iger outlined a surprising new direction for the Disney Plus streaming service, revealing that the company is in productive conversations with potential artificial intelligence partners. The goal is to leverage AI to create a more interactive platform. Iger expressed excitement about using AI to provide Disney Plus users with a much more engaged experience. A key part of this vision involves allowing subscribers to create their own user generated content and to consume short form content made by others on the service. This would mark a significant shift for the entertainment giant, which has built its empire on tightly controlling its iconic characters and stories. The CEO did not specify which AI companies Disney has been talking to, nor did he provide a concrete timeline for when these generative AI features might arrive on the streaming platform. This move is notable because the concept of users creating and sharing AI generated videos is not new, with numerous platforms already existing for this purpose. However, it represents a stark contrast to Disney’s historically aggressive stance on protecting its intellectual property. The company has already taken legal action against several AI platforms. It sent a cease and desist letter to Character.AI and has filed copyright infringement lawsuits against AI image generator Midjourney and the AI app Hailuo. Iger acknowledged this tension, stating that he hopes any partnership would reflect the company’s need to protect its IP. Such a deal would likely be highly lucrative for Disney, allowing it to monetize user creativity within its own walled garden. Nevertheless, the decision to potentially encourage fans to make AI generated videos of its beloved characters, even on its own platform, is a major strategic pivot for the famously protective company.
