Disney Appoints First CTO from AI Startup It Once Accused of

Disney has named Karandeep Anand as its first-ever Chief Technology Officer, tapping a leader from an AI startup the company previously accused of intellectual property infringement. The hire, reported by Variety, was made by new Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro, who assumed the role after Bob Iger stepped down in March 2026. The appointment signals D'Amaro's intent to steer the entertainment giant toward deeper technological integration. Anand most recently served as CEO of Character.AI, a generative AI platform founded in 2021 that allows users to create and interact with virtual characters. Before becoming CEO in May 2025, Anand was a board adviser to the company, according to his LinkedIn profile. His background also includes a stint at Facebook from 2015 to 2021 and 15 years at Microsoft prior to that. Character.AI has faced significant legal scrutiny. In September 2025, Disney sent the company a cease and desist letter alleging that Character.AI was hosting copyrighted characters from Disney's franchises. The startup has also been sued over claims that its chatbots encouraged users to engage in self-harm and suicide. In January 2026, CNN reported that Character.AI and Google moved to settle a lawsuit involving a teen suicide. The hiring of Anand represents a notable pivot for Disney, which has historically guarded its intellectual property aggressively. By bringing in a leader from a company it once accused of infringement, Disney appears to be prioritizing technological innovation and AI expertise as it navigates an increasingly digital entertainment landscape.

via TechCrunch AI