Disney has appointed Karandeep Anand as its first chief technology officer, a move that seems to be a curious nod to the past. Anand, who previously served as the CEO of Character.AI, an AI startup accused by Disney of infringing on its characters, now leads the tech giant.

Character.AI’s platform allows users to create and interact with virtual characters, leading to a legal spat with Disney in 2025 over the use of copyrighted characters. The startup has also faced criticism for its chatbots, which some users alleged encouraged self-harm.

The hiring of Anand by new Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro, who took over after Bob Iger, reflects a shift towards integrating new technologies into the company’s strategy. Anand’s background as a board adviser to Character.AI before his CEO role and his experience at both Facebook and Microsoft underlines his diverse tech expertise.

This hiring could signal a more open approach by Disney to AI and virtual characters, especially in an era where tech companies are increasingly intertwined. Whether this will lead to a smoother relationship between Disney and startups remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the tech world is a complex tapestry where former rivals can become allies.