Disney has appointed Karandeep Anand as its first-ever chief technology officer, a new role created amid CEO Josh D’Amaro’s push to strengthen the company’s technology capabilities. Anand, who previously led Character.AI, will join Disney on October 2 as senior executive vice president and CTO, reporting directly to D’Amaro. His responsibilities will cover overseeing enterprise technology, data, AI platforms, product, and engineering, aiming to modernize how Disney builds and delivers technology across the entirety of the company.

D’Amaro, who became Disney CEO earlier this year, has prioritized leveraging technology to accelerate advance growth in key areas like streaming and theme parks. The CTO position signals a deepening commitment to this strategy, aligning technical innovation with Disney’s creative storytelling and business functions. D’Amaro highlighted Anand’s strong background in infrastructure, consumer tech, and artificial intelligence as essential to fulfilling Disney’s goals of integrating creativity and technology while fostering cohesion across its divisions.

A significant focus of Disney’s tech push centers around its flagship streaming service, Disney+. Under D’Amaro’s direction, Disney is exploring ways to expand the platform, including introducing a free, ad-supported tier to attract a broader audience. Additionally, Disney is working toward evolving Disney+ into an integrated ecosystem that blends streaming content with consumer products, theme park experiences, and gaming, leveraging its rich intellectual property in novel interactive ways. Adam Smith was recently appointed chairman of Disney’s direct-to-consumer division to oversee these efforts.

Anand’s experience leads Disney into new territory as he transitions from Character.AI, known for its consumer-facing chatbot technology. Although Disney previously challenged Character.AI over copyright issues, Anand’s arrival, along with other hires from his former team, reflects an increased emphasis on artificial intelligence and user engagement within Disney’s technology strategy. This move underscores Disney’s ambition to modernize and innovate by combining next-generation AI with its vast storytelling resources.