Posted: - Lucas Ropek ## Disney’s first CTO led an AI startup it once accused of copying its characters Disney has hired its first-ever chief technology officer and in a curious twist, the new executive hails from an AI startup that the Magic Kingdom previously accused of infringing on its IP. Karandeep Anand is the former CEO of Character.AI, a company that has weathered numerous legal problems since it was founded in 2021. One of those legal problems arose in September 2025, when Disney sent the company a cease and desist letter accusing it of infringing on its beloved characters.…