A major entertainment giant just made a bold bet on artificial intelligence. The company behind some of the world's most beloved animated characters is pumping a cool billion into a leading AI research lab.

What's more interesting? They're handing over licensing rights to their crown jewels—think the iconic mouse mascot and that fairy tale princess everyone knows—for use on an AI-powered short video platform called Sora. This deal marks a significant shift in how traditional media empires are embracing generative AI tech. The move signals growing confidence that AI-generated content could reshape entertainment distribution, potentially creating new revenue streams while sparking debates about creativity and intellectual property in the digital age.