Disney appoints former Character.AI CEO as first group CTO
Tech veteran to lead Disney's digital transformation amid past AI content controversies
1Historic CTO appointment
Disney has created its first-ever group-wide Chief Technology Officer position, appointing Karandeep Anand effective October 2, 2025. Anand previously served as CEO of Character.AI, marking a significant hire from the generative AI sector. This move comes as Disney consolidates technology leadership across its business units under one executive for the first time in company history.
2Content moderation background
Anand led Character.AI during a contentious period when Disney sent a cease-and-desist letter in September 2025 over unauthorized use of Disney characters in chatbots. The AI company complied within days, removing characters that Disney claimed were sometimes sexually exploitative or harmful to children. This experience with content moderation becomes relevant as Disney expands its digital offerings.
3Youth safety measures
Under Anand's leadership, Character.AI implemented significant youth protection measures in November 2025, banning open-ended chat for under-18s. This followed a lawsuit regarding a 14-year-old's death in Florida, where the platform was accused of addictive design. The move demonstrated Anand's experience balancing innovation with safety concerns - a critical skill for Disney's family-focused brand.
4Tech industry veteran
Anand brings 15 years at Microsoft plus leadership roles at Facebook (ads/business products) and fintech Brex before Character.AI. His diverse experience spans enterprise software, social media monetization, financial technology, and generative AI - all areas relevant to Disney's digital transformation. This background positions him to oversee Disney's expanding tech ecosystem.
5Disney's digital ambitions
New CEO Josh D'Amaro envisions Disney+ evolving beyond films/TV to include games and interactive experiences. The company is already testing AI search features on Disney+ and ESPN. Anand will report directly to D'Amaro, indicating the strategic importance of this role in shaping Disney's digital future across all business units.
6Regulatory context
The hire coincides with proposed EU regulations (Kids Act) that would ban social media for under-13s, limit teen usage, and disable AI chatbots by default for minors. These rules mirror concerns raised in Disney's complaint against Character.AI and the Florida lawsuit, highlighting growing scrutiny of youth digital safety that Anand must now navigate for Disney.
7Potential team migration
Disney expects some of Anand's technical team from Character.AI to follow him, suggesting possible talent acquisition beyond the executive level. This could accelerate Disney's AI capabilities, though the company's announcement emphasizes Anand's focus on user trust and safety during Character.AI's scaling period.
8Strategic implications
The appointment places an AI chatbot executive at the technology helm of a children's entertainment giant during heightened regulatory scrutiny. While Anand's record shows tightening rather than loosening product safeguards, the hire raises questions about Disney's AI direction and how it will balance innovation with its family-friendly reputation in this contentious space.
Original article: The Next Web — Disney appoints former Character.AI CEO as first group CTO