Disney Taps AI Startup CEO as First Tech Chief Amid Shift to Artificial Intelligence
Disney has appointed Karandeep Anand as its first chief technology officer. Anand is currently the CEO of Character.AI, an artificial intelligence startup that was previously at odds with Disney over unauthorized use of its characters.
The company sent Character.AI a cease-and-desist letter in September 2025, but it's unclear what prompted this change of heart. Just months later, in December 2025, Disney announced a $1 billion investment and three-year licensing deal with OpenAI that would have allowed users to create AI videos featuring Disney characters.
The deal fell through when OpenAI shut down its Sora video app in March, but Anand's appointment suggests Disney is serious about exploring the potential of artificial intelligence. He will oversee enterprise technology, infrastructure, data management, and AI platforms at the company, reporting directly to CEO Josh D'Amaro.
Anand has been touted as an expert builder and strategist with sharp instincts for what fans actually want, according to Disney. However, Character.AI has faced lawsuits over chatbot safety, including a settlement with Google in January after families accused AI chatbots of harming minors.