Morning Brew Daily Disney Invests $1B in OpenAI & Time’s Person, or Architects, of the Year
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Dec 12, 2025 Dive into the world of Disney's bold $1 billion investment in OpenAI, licensing over 200 characters for unique experiences. Explore the fascinating implications for youth engagement and potential lawsuits. Discover the stir caused by Time's choice of multiple AI leaders as their Person(s) of the Year, raising eyebrows in prediction markets. The financial landscape also heats up with Warner Bros Discovery's stock surge amid industry bidding battles. Plus, a look at JetBlue's upscale shift and Lululemon's leadership shakeup!
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Legacy Media Embraces AI Partnerships
- Disney gave OpenAI a three-year license to use 200+ characters and invested $1 billion to extend its storytelling reach.
- The deal signals legacy media choosing collaboration with AI platforms to capture younger audiences and shape use of their IP.
Guardrails Over Complete Open Access
- Disney allowed character generation but explicitly barred human faces, voices, and franchise music from use in Sora.
- The company seeks control through contract guardrails to prevent misuse while monetizing character demand.
Play For Youth Attention
- Bob Iger framed the investment as a way to stay relevant with youth who favor user-generated short video.
- Disney is positioning its IP where young audiences already consume content instead of resisting platform trends.