Disney, Adobe to co-develop custom AI models tailored for media giant

Disney and Adobe have formed a multi-year partnership to co-develop custom generative AI models specifically for the media giant. The collaboration aims to integrate AI tools across various Disney businesses, including theme parks, studios, and sports media through ESPN. The deal was announced on Monday, with the first focus on accelerating project development timelines at Disney's Experiences division, which manages global theme parks, resorts, and cruise lines.

Additionally, Adobe will assist Disney in exploring concepts at StudioLAB, the innovation hub within Walt Disney Studios. Adobe's Firefly Foundry, a platform that enables enterprises to construct and deploy custom AI models, will be used to create AI models trained on Disney's intellectual properties. These models will generate production-ready outputs and will be exclusive to Disney.

Disney's Imagineering team has already deployed custom image generation and sketch-to-image models that can transform hand-drawn sketches into fully-rendered concept art. According to Kyle Laughlin, senior vice president of R&D technology and engineering at Disney, Adobe Foundry has enabled the compression of the creative process that once took months into hours and days.

Laughlin emphasized that these tools will significantly reduce costly changes during the construction of Disney experiences and will not replace existing roles at Imagineering. Earlier this month, Bloomberg News reported that Disney was considering job cuts and seeking cost-saving measures, with some managers instructed to target a 20% reduction in annual expenses.