Disney signs landmark $1B deal with OpenAI that could transform your favorite characters

If you need life advice on how to be less 'cold' to your colleagues from Elsa, want to get fear-of-flying tips from Buzz Lightyear, or simply want to watch Emperor Palpatine breakdance, Disney's latest deal could be the one for you.

While there are continued questions about where the artificial intelligence industry is heading, those at the top are continuing to push it to the forefront of the conversation.

This was demonstrated by Time Magazine naming the 'Architects of AI' as its People of the Year, and despite fears that AI is coming to replace everyone from customer service staff to artists, actors to journalists, one of the biggest companies in the world has just hitched itself to the AI bandwagon.

After a number of Hollywood's biggest names spoke out against the world's first AI actor being tipped as a replacement for Disney stalwart Scarlett Johansson, news that the House of Mouse has signed a $1 billion deal with OpenAI is sure to cause a stir.

OpenAI has confirmed that it has reached a 'landmark agreement' with the Walt Disney Company, poised to bring some of your best-loved characters to its AI platforms. A three-year deal will license more than 200 Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars characters for use in Sora. This means users will be able to create realistic AI videos with specific user prompts.

ChatGPT will be able to turn user words into fully generated images, although it should be noted that the current agreement doesn't include talent likenesses or voices, so you probably won't be seeing Brie Larson's Captain Marvel zooming around your screens.

With Disney becoming a major OpenAI customer and using its APIs to build "new products, tools, and experiences" while deploying ChatGPT for employees, there are also warrants to purchase 'additional' equity.

As you can imagine, Disney's family-friendly image means you presumably won't be able to create some of the NSFW ideas shown as Star Wars tops Pornhub's Year in Review.

Giving a glimpse of where things could be heading, the post confirms that a 'selection' of these fan creations will appear on Disney+, which is sure to cause a further debate about people creating content for the company.

Still, both Disney and OpenAI have shared their commitments to the responsible use of AI that vows to protect users and creators. OpenAI reiterated: "Together, the companies will advance human-centered AI that respects the creative industries and expands what is possible for storytelling."

Even as the general public tries to get their heads around what this means for the toys of Andy's bedroom, Disney is destined to reshape the copyright war. While it might've once seemed like a case of Jedi vs Sith, the warring giants look like they're putting down their lightsabers.