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DISNEY NAMES FIRST-EVER CTO FROM CHARACTER.AI

AI DESK1 MIN READ
FRI, SEP 18, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE ▸ TIMELINE

Disney has appointed Karandeep Anand as its first chief technology officer. Anand, former CEO of chatbot startup Character.AI, will report to CEO Josh D'Amaro.

Anand will lead Disney's infrastructure, product, engineering, and data/AI platforms teams. The hire marks the first time the entertainment giant has filled a CTO role in its organizational structure. At Character.AI, Anand oversaw development of the AI chatbot platform before departing earlier this year. His appointment signals Disney's deepening focus on artificial intelligence and technology infrastructure as core business functions. The CTO position places Anand directly under D'Amaro, who took the CEO role in November 2022. Disney has been investing heavily in streaming technology, data analytics, and AI capabilities across its divisions, from Disney+ to theme park operations. Anand's responsibilities will span critical areas including cloud infrastructure, software engineering practices, and AI/ML platforms—indicating Disney's intent to modernize its technical foundations across entertainment, streaming, and operational technology.

■ SOURCES

The Verge

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

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