Disney has employed its first-ever chief know-how officer and in a curious twist, the brand new government hails from an AI startup that the Magic Kingdom beforehand accused of infringing on its IP.
Karandeep Anand is the previous CEO of Character.AI, an organization that has weathered quite a few authorized issues because it was based in 2021. A type of authorized issues arose in September 2025, when Disney despatched the corporate a stop and desist letter accusing it of infringing on its beloved characters.
Character.AI permits customers to create distinct digital characters with generative AI and discuss and work together with them. Disney beforehand claimed that the corporate was internet hosting copyrighted characters from its franchises.
Along with Disney’s accusations, Character.AI has additionally been sued over allegations that the corporate’s chatbots inspired customers to commit self-harm and suicide.
Selection stories that Anand was chosen for the position by new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, who took over after former firm chief Bob Iger stepped down in March. The hiring suggests D’Amaro desires the corporate to embrace new applied sciences.
Anand previously served as a board adviser to Character earlier than changing into CEO in Might 2025, in response to his LinkedIn profile. He additionally labored at Fb between 2015 and 2021 and, earlier than that, spent 15 years at Microsoft.
