Disney has appointed Karandeep Anand as its first-ever chief technology officer, marking a significant shift in leadership strategy under new CEO Josh D’Amaro. Anand previously served as the chief executive of Character.AI, the artificial intelligence platform that hosted virtual versions of Disney’s intellectual property. In September 2025, the entertainment giant sent a cease and desist letter to Character.AI, alleging that the startup had infringed on its beloved characters by allowing users to interact with them. The legal dispute arose because the platform enables users to create distinct virtual personas using generative AI technology.
This hiring decision signals that D’Amaro intends to integrate new technologies into the company’s operations despite past legal conflicts. Anand brings extensive experience from his tenure at Microsoft and Facebook, where he worked between 2015 and 2021. Before leading Character.AI, he acted as a board adviser to the startup. The appointment follows a period of legal scrutiny for the AI firm, which also faced separate lawsuits regarding chatbot safety and user well-being. Anand will now oversee Disney’s technological direction while managing the legacy of his previous role.
* Anand joined Character.AI in May 2025 after serving as a board adviser.
* Josh D’Amaro assumed the Disney CEO role in March following Bob Iger’s departure.
* The legal dispute centred on the platform hosting copyrighted characters from Disney franchises.
