Disney Names Karandeep Anand as First-Ever CTO Despite Past IP Dispute With His AI Startup
aiinsider ·
Disney has appointed Karandeep Anand, the former CEO of Character.AI, as its first-ever Chief Technology Officer. This hiring decision is notable because Disney previously sent a cease-and-desist letter to Character.AI in September 2025, accusing the company of hosting unauthorized versions of its copyrighted characters. The appointment was made by new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, who took over after Bob Iger’s departure in March. D’Amaro’s selection of Anand signals a strategic push toward greater adoption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, within the company. Anand brings extensive experience from previous roles at Microsoft and Facebook before leading Character.AI. His background includes serving as a board adviser to Character.AI prior to becoming its CEO in May 2025. Despite past legal tensions regarding intellectual property, Disney appears confident in integrating Anand’s expertise into its technological future.
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