Disney has found itself at the centre of a social media storm after it was brutally mocked for sharing what appeared to be an AI-generated image of Mickey Mouse, complete with a glaring and unsettling mistake.
The Bizarre Thumbnail That Sparked Outrage
The controversy began when the official Disney Parks YouTube account shared a video from the popular YouTube channel Dude Perfect. The channel's star, Garrett 'The Purple Hoser' Hilbert, had documented his challenge to visit every Disney park across the globe in just 75 hours.
However, it was the video's thumbnail image that caused immediate uproar. The picture showed Hilbert sitting next to Mickey Mouse on a rollercoaster. The beloved character, however, sported a bizarre and unnerving feature: a set of tiny, sharp teeth.
Since Mickey Mouse is famously toothless, fans were quick to conclude that the thumbnail had been created using artificial intelligence. The image was so widely criticised that Disney has since changed it, removing the peculiar dentition from the snap. But the swift edit did little to quell the global outrage from social media users and Disney enthusiasts.
Backlash and Hypocrisy Accusations
The incident has drawn particular criticism given Disney's previous legal stance on AI. Commenters were quick to point out the apparent hypocrisy, as Disney previously sued an AI company for copyright infringement over the use of its characters.
One person commented under Disney's post, calling the image 'disturbing and gross. Nightmare inducing.' Another scathingly wrote, 'The thumbnail itself makes me not want to click on this video. Pass.'
Further criticism highlighted the perceived drop in quality. 'Every time I think this account can't get any worse, you somehow dig deeper. Low quality content and AI slop, just perfect,' a user added. Others expressed deep disappointment, with one stating, 'Disney should be ashamed of reposting a thumbnail that contains AI Mickey. You'd think this company would have guidelines or standards for this stuff but I guess not.'
The sentiment was echoed by another who declared, 'Not a chance I'm clicking on this AI monstrosity. Do better. A lot better.' A different person sarcastically penned, 'Glad to see Disney is supporting AI of its characters.'
Disney's Broader AI Ambitions and Internal Conflict
This public relations mishap occurs against a backdrop of Disney's increasing investment in AI technology, which has already caused internal friction. Back in June, Variety reported that Disney and NBCUniversal had filed a federal lawsuit against the generative AI start-up Midjourney. The companies alleged that the service was generating and displaying hundreds, if not thousands, of images that infringed upon their copyrighted works.
Despite this legal action, Disney has been steadily implementing AI across its business. Earlier this month, CEO Bob Iger teased that AI-generated content was in the works for Disney+, stating it would provide users with 'a much more engaged experience' and the ability to create and consume user-generated content.
This announcement was met with fierce internal criticism. Dana Terrace, the creator of the Disney Channel series The Owl House, unleashed a furious tirade against the company. She encouraged fans to unsubscribe from Disney+ and even to pirate her own show, writing on X, 'Unsubscribe from Disney+. Pirate Owl House. I don't care. F**k gen AI.'
In another post, she lambasted Iger and his 'ilk' as 'f**king ghouls.'
Simultaneously, Disney is pushing forward with AI in its parks. The company recently unveiled a brand new AI-powered Olaf robot scheduled for Disneyland Paris early next year. The high-tech snowman uses a combination of remote operation and AI programmed to adapt to its surroundings.
Kyle Laughlin, a product and technology leader at Disney, described it as 'one of the most expressive and true-to-life characters built.' To achieve natural movement, engineers utilised reinforcement learning AI, allowing the robot to practice thousands of motions in a computer simulation. This technology enables robots like Olaf to acquire complex motor skills in a fraction of the time it would take a human.
The stark contrast between this advanced, in-house AI development and the clumsy, externally-mocked AI thumbnail highlights the complex and often controversial path Disney is navigating as it integrates artificial intelligence into its magical world.
