Disney Patents AI Technology with Working Memory for Virtual Characters

Disney has secured a patent for AI technology that gives virtual characters a working memory, allowing them to recall past conversations and adapt their responses accordingly. The patent, US 12,718,481 B2, was granted on August 25, 2026, to Disney Enterprises and ETH Zürich.

The system uses a bank of stored 'memories' tied to the character's personality and backstory to generate a response. It matches user messages to relevant memories, ranks them by factors like relevance and importance, and then uses machine learning to create a response.

The patent also includes a mathematical formula for how characters 'forget' over time, allowing memories from trusted sources to be set to resist forgetting while casual interactions can fade faster if not accessed again. This technology could have significant implications for the way Disney interacts with guests in its theme parks and other settings.