Disney Faces Backlash Over AI-Generated Content Plans
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Disney is facing considerable backlash following CEO Bob Iger's announcement that the company will allow AI-generated content on its streaming service, Disney+. During a recent earnings call for the fourth quarter of 2025, Iger stated that this move would introduce the most significant changes in product and technology since the launch of Disney+ in 2019.
He expressed excitement over how AI would enhance user engagement, enabling subscribers to create and consume user-generated content, primarily short-form material. However, the response from Disney fans has not been favorable.
Many are concerned that the influx of AI-generated content could lead to job losses, a decline in quality, and a departure from the core values that Disney represents. This outcry has prompted some subscribers to call for a boycott of Disney+, suggesting they turn to alternative animation studios like Dreamworks and Illumination, which have publicly rejected the use of generative AI.
Among the notable reactions is a plea from Dana Terrace, the creator of Disney's animated series The Owl House, who encouraged viewers to pirate her show, indicating the depth of frustration from creators.
Critics have pointed out that Iger's comments demonstrate a lack of awareness regarding the existential threat AI poses to creative fields. In recent months, the music industry has faced similar challenges, with the emergence of AI-generated bands and tracks that have created confusion over artistic authenticity.
A global study by French streaming service Deezer and Ipsos revealed that 97 percent of participants could not distinguish between real music and AI-generated music. Only 19 percent reported feeling they could trust AI, while 51 percent believed that AI's involvement in music production could lead to generic sounds.
This landscape of uncertainty about AI's role in creativity raises ethical questions about the future of content creation. As the debate continues, the entertainment industry watches closely to see how this pivotal moment will shape the dynamics between technology and artistry.