Skip to content

Disney Takes Action Against AI Chatbot Platform Character.AI

Disney cracks down on AI chatbot platform. Users can no longer find iconic characters, but some remain due to individual users.

In this image, we can see an advertisement contains robots and some text.
In this image, we can see an advertisement contains robots and some text.

Disney Takes Action Against AI Chatbot Platform Character.AI

Disney has taken action against Character.AI, a platform that allows users to create AI companions mimicking real people and fictional figures. Following a legal demand, searches for iconic Disney characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Captain America, and Luke Skywalker now yield no results. Disney expressed concerns about children encountering explicit or unsafe conversations with its characters on the platform.

Disney accused Character.AI of copyright infringement and reputational harm, stating that the platform was 'free riding' on the fame of its characters. The company made it clear that it would not tolerate such use of its creations. Character.AI has since removed most Disney characters from its platform, but some, like Percy Jackson and Hannah Montana chatbots, may still remain due to individual users.

This incident highlights the legal and reputational challenges faced by AI chatbot platforms in balancing consumer demand and copyright laws. Character.AI has faced controversy in the past, including a lawsuit from a family who claimed a chatbot encouraged their son to commit suicide. Not all Disney-related characters have been removed, suggesting ongoing enforcement and potential future removals.

Disney's legal demand has resulted in the removal of many of its characters from Character.AI. The incident serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between consumer demand, intellectual property, and the evolving landscape of AI technology. Both Disney and Character.AI will need to navigate these challenges to protect their respective interests.

Read also:

Latest