Disney Names Character.AI CEO as First CTO

Disney has appointed Karandeep Anand, the former chief executive of Character.AI, as its first company-wide chief technology officer, marking a significant step in the entertainment giant's push to integrate artificial intelligence and technology across its operations. Anand, who will report directly to Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro, is scheduled to start on October 2. He previously led Character.AI, a generative AI chatbot platform, from May 2025 until his hiring by Disney. In September 2025, Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter to Character.AI, alleging unauthorized use of its characters, such as Elsa and Darth Vader, and claiming some chatbots were sexually exploitive and harmful to children. Character.AI removed the Disney characters within days and, in November 2025, barred under-18s from open-ended chat following a lawsuit over the death of a 14-year-old boy in Florida. Disney expects some of Character.AI's technical staff to follow Anand to the company. In his new role, Anand will oversee enterprise technology, AI platforms, and engineering across Disney's business segments, including streaming services like Disney+ and ESPN, theme parks, and experiences.