Disney and Adobe Announce Multiyear AI Partnership

The Walt Disney Company and Adobe announced a multiyear strategic alliance on November 9, bringing Adobe’s artificial-intelligence and creative tools to projects across Disney’s theme parks, cruise line, film studio and ESPN. The companies said the partnership builds on their longstanding relationship and will support creative and production work across those businesses.

Adobe will give Disney early access to its latest creative, AI and media technologies, including Firefly, Firefly Foundry, Premiere and Photoshop. It will also provide engineering and research resources to support Disney’s production pipeline. The companies described the arrangement as an Official AI Innovation Partnership, with Adobe taking part in work across Disney’s creative and technology teams.

Walt Disney Imagineering is already using Firefly Foundry in theme-park development, according to the companies. The announced work includes a sketch-to-image model that converts hand-drawn concepts into rendered 2D concept art and a customized image model intended to produce assets consistent with Disney franchises. Adobe and Disney say the models are designed around the company’s properties, characters,...