Disney’s AI Paradox: Embracing Innovation While Protecting Its Legacy

Mike Messenger
3 min readNov 18, 2023

The Walt Disney Company, a beacon of creativity and innovation in the entertainment industry, is currently navigating the complex waters of artificial intelligence (AI) with a dual approach that embraces AI in one hand while fighting it in the other.

Disney’s Proactive AI Initiatives

In a move to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving tech landscape, Disney has launched a dedicated task force to explore AI’s applications across its vast empire. This strategic step, informed by the vision of Disney’s management, aims to harness AI in enhancing operations, cutting costs, and creating new customer experiences. “Legacy media companies like Disney must either figure out AI or risk obsolescence,” said an internal advocate, highlighting the urgency of this initiative.

The company’s job listings reveal a comprehensive plan to integrate AI, touching various divisions from Walt Disney Studios to its theme parks and advertising teams. The positions call for expertise in artificial intelligence and machine learning, underlining Disney’s commitment to technological advancement.

Notably, Disney Imagineering’s projects, such as the Baby Groot robot and the D3–09 cabin droid, exemplify the company’s innovative use of AI. These ventures showcase how…

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Mike Messenger

Father of twins, Principal Product manager by trade, a Indie Game Developer in my free time. I’m fixed on driving the AI revolution (responsibly)