Bob Iger reveals why Disney partnered with OpenAI, calling the deal a strategic leap designed to enhance storytelling, personalize audience experiences, and prepare the studio for the future of entertainment.

A Major Strategic Shift for Disney

December 11, 2025: Disney CEO Bob Iger is opening up about why the company pursued a headline-making partnership with OpenAI — a deal he describes as both “bold” and “necessary” for the next era of storytelling. The agreement, which stunned Hollywood and Wall Street alike, signals Disney’s largest move yet into AI-powered creativity and technology.

“We’re Future-Proofing the Magic”

Iger shared that the deal was driven by a simple belief: Disney must innovate to remain a global leader in entertainment. According to him, AI is now a core tool shaping how people watch, interact with, and share content.

By partnering with OpenAI, he said Disney gains access to cutting-edge systems capable of enhancing creativity without replacing human artists. Instead, he framed it as giving creators better tools to dream bigger.

HOLR has the latest news on how Disney’s evolving strategy is reshaping the entertainment industry.

Enhancing Storytelling — Not Automating It

Iger emphasized that the partnership is not about letting AI write movies or build franchises independently. Instead, Disney intends to use OpenAI technology to support:

worldbuilding and visual development

immersive and interactive storytelling

personalized viewer experiences

advanced production pipelines

For Iger, the goal is to elevate Disney’s storytelling power while protecting the artistic core that defines the company.

Why OpenAI?

Disney evaluated multiple AI companies, but Iger says OpenAI’s rapid innovation, strong safety frameworks, and collaborative mindset made it the ideal partner. He praised the organization’s ability to scale technology responsibly while maintaining a focus on creativity.

The deal includes integrated tools across Disney+, animation divisions, visual effects departments, and theme park development — a sweeping technological overhaul.

A Bet on the Next Generation of Viewers

Iger noted that the industry has entered a moment where younger audiences expect personalized, adaptive entertainment. From interactive characters to dynamic story paths, the future of media consumption is shifting.

“OpenAI helps us meet audiences where they are and where they’re going,” he said.

HOLR notes that this reflects a growing trend of studios merging tech and storytelling to stay competitive.

Navigating Concerns Inside Hollywood

Iger acknowledged that some creators fear AI partnerships could threaten jobs or undermine artistic authenticity. In response, he reiterated that Disney’s approach prioritizes collaboration with writers, artists, and filmmakers — not replacement.

He stressed that creative unions will be part of ongoing conversations as new technology is introduced.

A Deal Designed for Scale

Disney plans to embed OpenAI tools across multiple branches of the company over the next several years, including animation workflows, script development assistance, park guest experiences, and internal analytics designed to strengthen audience engagement.

The scale of the agreement makes it one of the most ambitious AI-entertainment partnerships to date.

The Big Picture

Bob Iger’s explanation makes clear that Disney sees the OpenAI partnership as a once-in-a-generation transformation — one that positions the company at the forefront of technological and creative evolution.

For Disney, the message is simple: to keep telling world-changing stories, the studio must keep innovating.