Relieved that Baby Yoda won’t be turned into AI-generated content!
After committing $1 billion to the AI research and deployment company OpenAI last year, Disney has decided to back out of the planned three-year licensing agreement. This shift follows OpenAI’s announcement of the closure of its video AI platform, Sora, which allowed users to create video content featuring various intellectual properties, including those from Disney. The good news? Grogu won’t be part of any AI-generated content in an official capacity—at least for now.
Disney’s financial support for OpenAI came with the expectation that beloved characters from franchises like Star Wars, Frozen, and Tangled would be integrated into Sora. With the app now permanently offline, Disney has opted to sever ties.
Many fans were surprised when Disney initially allowed its intellectual property to be featured on Sora. Now that the deal has ended, those same fans have taken to social media to express their joy over Sora’s demise. I share that sentiment. Even though the agreement stated that Disney and OpenAI would curate which fan-made Sora “short form videos” would be available on Disney Plus, I’ve seen enough of these creations to know that just because a video isn’t officially sanctioned by Disney doesn’t mean it won’t surface online.
Describing some of the Pixar-style fan videos produced with Sora as unsettling barely scratches the surface. One video titled “Glory Hole” features a young girl who befriends a massive worm that breaks into her room through a wall. The narrator ominously hints that she will soon discover “the biggest d—” before the sentence abruptly ends. Another video depicts the infamous American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in a Pixar-like animation as he stalks his victims. Alarmingly, these videos have gained traction on YouTube, one of the most widely used video platforms globally, with one ranking various Disney and Pixar trailers made for Sora amassing over 9.5 million views.
The idea of characters like Grogu, the childlike alien from the upcoming Star Wars series, being used in such a manner is unsettling. It’s a relief that this type of content won’t be officially associated with Disney anymore. However, it’s only a matter of time before Disney seeks out a new AI partner.
“As the rapidly evolving AI landscape progresses, we respect OpenAI’s decision to exit the video generation space and refocus its efforts,” a Disney spokesperson stated. “We value the productive collaboration between our teams and the insights gained from it, and we will continue to explore AI platforms to discover new ways to connect with fans while responsibly adopting technologies that honor intellectual property and the rights of creators.” Enjoy your carefree childhood while you can, Grogu.
