Disney hires former Character.AI boss as its first technology chief

Disney has appointed its first-ever chief technology officer in a move that brings in a leader from an artificial intelligence startup the entertainment giant previously accused of copying its intellectual property. Karandeep Anand, the former CEO of Character.AI, will take on the new technology role at Disney. Character.AI was founded in 2021 and has faced several legal challenges since its launch. One of those legal disputes occurred in September 2025, when Disney issued a cease and desist letter to the startup, claiming the company had infringed on Disney characters.