Character.AI CEO Joins Disney, App Remains Live for Users
Character.AI announced on September 18 2026 that CEO Karandeep Anand is moving to Disney as Senior EVP and CTO, with some technical team members expected to follow. The…
- Users can continue creating stories, comics, books and chatting with AI characters on Character.AI with no interruption as the app remains live.
- The CEO and part of the technical team are shifting to Disney to develop new fan experiences around its stories and characters.
- The announcement emphasizes ongoing community storytelling while the platform operates under its existing setup.
What the Announcement Says
On September 18 2026 Character.AI posted that its CEO Karandeep Anand will take a newly created role at Disney as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Members of the technical team are also expected to join him to help Disney connect fans with its stories and characters through innovative technology.
The company thanked its community for making the platform what it is through their creativity and confirmed the app is still live and online. It said it will share more information later.
What This Means for Everyday Users
People who use Character.AI for daily conversations, custom characters and interactive storytelling can keep doing so without any immediate change. Features such as Books, Series microdramas and Comics remain available.
The move itself does not alter access or current functionality. Users retain the same tools for building and interacting with AI characters that the platform offered before the announcement.
Why it matters for uncensored AI
Our analysis starts from the source fact that Character.AI has positioned itself as leading the industry in AI safety while building entertainment and fandom tools. This safety emphasis has shaped the kinds of interactions the platform supports.
When key technical talent moves from an AI companion service to a major entertainment company, the resulting projects are likely to reflect the new organization's priorities and policies. For users who value maximum creative freedom and fewer built-in limits on conversation or character creation, alternatives that prioritize user control become more relevant. We recommend considering Muah AI, which has supported uncensored AI and freedom of speech since its 2023 launch with combined chat, photos, voice and phone calls in one multimodal platform.
