The Walt Disney Co. is forming a new group to coordinate the company’s use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and mixed reality, as the media giant explores applications across its film, television and theme parks divisions.
An email seen by Reuters on Friday showed that the newly formed technology enablement office will be led by Jamie Voris, the film studio’s chief technology officer who led the development of Disney’s app for the Apple Vision Pro mixed reality device. Eddie will succeed Drake Voris as the studio’s CTO.
“The pace and scope of advances in AI and Bergman.
“Creating this group underscores our commitment to do just that.”
Bergman noted that the unit will focus on fast-moving technology areas, such as artificial intelligence and mixed reality, which blends the physical and digital worlds. The work will not be focused on these projects, but will ensure that the various projects around the company fit into its broader strategy.
Voris will report to Bergman. The technology enablement office, which was launched with a core leadership team, is expected to grow to about 100 employees, a person familiar with the matter said.
Reuters first reported that Disney has formed a task force to study artificial intelligence and how it could be applied across the entertainment group.
Various departments within Disney are exploring applications of augmented reality, which places digital items in the real world; Virtual reality, which immerses the user in a simulated environment; And mixed reality that combines the two.
Disney is building expertise across the organization to leverage emerging technology.
For example, Kyle Laughlin, a Disney veteran with a background in augmented and virtual reality and artificial intelligence, returned to the company in March as senior vice president of research and development at Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative force behind attractions at Disney’s theme parks. He left Disney briefly in 2019 to lead Amazon’s Alexa Gadgets division.
While Meta and Snap unveiled a new generation of lightweight headsets that offer consumers a fashionable alternative to bulky VR headsets, Disney has quietly assembled a team focused on how best to harness technology to bring new experiences to the company’s theme parks and consumers’ homes. Seven sources told Reuters.
Data from market research firm IDC showed that technology companies have sold about 1.7 million augmented reality and virtual reality headsets so far this year. Meta is still the clear market leader, with a 60.5% market share, but it is starting to face pressure in this area from competitors such as Sony, Apple and ByteDance.
Google also indicated this year that it might return to the AR/VR market.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
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