# Disney appoints former Character.AI CEO as first group CTO Tech veteran to lead Disney's digital transformation amid past AI content controversies - **Source:** [The Next Web](https://brifing.si/source/afe24b20-b275-4c19-b9a6-8bb3c8babae7) - **Published:** 2026-09-18 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/6c757bd9-a826-48f2-8368-ff4a4bc91f49 ## Historic 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. ## Content 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. ## Youth 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. ## Tech 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. ## Disney'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. ## Regulatory 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. ## Potential 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. ## Strategic 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. ## Sources covering this story - https://thenextweb.com/news/disney-cto-character-ai-anand — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._