Sam Altman Opens Up About Telling CEO of Disney That It Had All Been Smoke and Mirrors
Altman said he felt "super sad" about blowing up the $1 billion deal. The post Sam Altman Opens Up About Telling CEO of Disney That It Had All Been Smoke and Mirrors appeared first on Futurism .
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has recently shared the details behind the abrupt end of the $1 billion deal with Disney for their AI video generator app, Sora. In an interview on the "Mostly Human" podcast, Altman revealed the conversation he had with Disney CEO Josh D'Amaro about the decision to shut down the project. The news of the deal's termination came as a surprise to many, given the significant investment Disney was prepared to make.
Altman expressed that he felt "super sad" about the decision to end the partnership. He acknowledged that disappointing a partner, users, or a dedicated team is never easy, especially when they are all working diligently to create something exceptional. However, he emphasized that the decision was made to focus OpenAI's resources on more impactful projects.
The interview provided some insight into the reaction from Disney. Altman recounted that when he broke the news to D'Amaro, the Disney CEO's response was, "I get it." This suggests that, despite the surprise, both parties approached the situation with understanding.
Despite the termination of the Sora project, neither OpenAI nor Disney seems eager to burn bridges. The AI market is too dynamic and promising to completely cut off ties with a major player like Disney. Additionally, Disney's cultural influence and reach make it an attractive partner for future collaborations.
Altman left the door open for a potential future partnership in the interview. He stated, "I love Sora, I love generated videos, and I love our partnership with Disney, and we're working hard with them to find a world where they can still do something amazing, and we can help with that." However, he also clarified that OpenAI needs to concentrate its compute and product capacity on next-generation automated researchers and companies.
Disney, in response to the shutdown, maintained a measured tone. The company acknowledged the constructive collaboration and the learning experience gained from the project. Disney also reaffirmed its commitment to engaging with AI platforms to find new ways to connect with fans while respecting intellectual property and creators' rights.
OpenAI announced the closure of Sora in late March, a decision that reportedly caught Disney off guard. The app was launched just last September and was intended to generate animated videos using AI technology. The abrupt end of the project has sparked speculation about the underlying reasons and the dynamics between the two companies.
In the aftermath of the Sora shutdown, both OpenAI and Disney are likely to focus on exploring other avenues for collaboration in the rapidly evolving AI industry. While the immediate partnership has come to an end, the potential for future opportunities remains.
