Disney Names First-Ever CTO Amid AI Push
Disney has appointed Karandeep Anand as its first-ever Chief Technology Officer (CTO), in a move that highlights the entertainment giant's growing focus on AI technology. Anand, who previously worked at Microsoft and Meta, will oversee enterprise technology, infrastructure, data, and AI platforms across Disney's various business segments.
The appointment is significant not just because it marks a rare move for Disney, but also because of Anand's background in AI. He was poached from Character.AI, an emerging AI company that has faced controversy over its use of user-generated content featuring Disney IPs.
Disney sent a lawyer's letter to Character.AI last year, accusing the company of infringing on its copyrighted characters. However, Anand's work at Character.AI also involved implementing strict protection rules and age verification models, which could be seen as a positive step for the industry.