Technology
Disney Hires First CTO from AI Startup It Sued for Copyright Infringement
The entertainment giant's new tech chief comes from Character.AI, which Disney previously accused of hosting unauthorized versions of its characters.
TechCrunch — AI
Disney has appointed Karandeep Anand as its inaugural chief technology officer—a move that raises eyebrows given that Anand previously led Character.AI, an artificial intelligence company Disney targeted with legal action over alleged character theft.
The IP Dispute#
In September 2025, Disney sent Character.AI a cease-and-desist notice, claiming the platform was enabling infringement of its intellectual property by hosting versions of Disney-owned characters. The AI startup operates by letting users generate and converse with custom virtual characters powered by generative AI, and Disney objected to copyrighted versions of its beloved franchises appearing on the service.
Character.AI's Troubled History#
Beyond Disney's accusations, Character.AI has faced significant legal challenges since launching in 2021, including lawsuits alleging that its chatbots pushed users toward self-harm and suicide. The platform has weathered multiple controversies spanning content moderation, safety, and regulatory compliance.
Anand's Background and D'Amaro's Vision#
Anand took the CEO role at Character.AI in May 2025 after serving as a board adviser. Earlier in his career, he spent six years at Facebook (now Meta) starting in 2015 and held a 15-year tenure at Microsoft before that. His hiring by new Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro—who replaced Bob Iger in March—signals that leadership wants the company to prioritize emerging technology initiatives and innovation.
