Daily Tech Headlines – Disney Signs Three-Year Licensing Deal With OpenAI

Date: December 11, 2025
Hosts: Robb Dunewood

Episode Overview

This episode delivers the essential tech news of the day, focusing on Disney's landmark licensing deal with OpenAI. The show swiftly moves through major headlines, including AI partnerships, legal concerns over chatbot outputs, regulatory proposals for travelers, and major announcements from Google, TikTok, and other tech players. If you need a concise round-up of the day’s biggest technology stories, this episode is an efficient catch-up.

Main Stories & Key Insights

Disney and OpenAI Strike Major Content Deal

Timestamp: 02:18

• What happened: Disney signed a three-year licensing agreement with OpenAI.
• Details:
  • Grants OpenAI’s Sora and ChatGPT access to over 200 Disney-owned characters, props, vehicles, and environments from franchises like Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars.
  • Excludes rights to talent likenesses and voices.
  • Disney invests $1 billion into OpenAI.
  • ChatGPT to be used internally by Disney employees.
  • Sora-generated content will appear on Disney platforms starting next year; fan-inspired video generation launches early 2026.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Disney has signed a three year licensing deal with OpenAI granting Sora and ChatGPT access to over 200 characters, costumes, props, vehicles and environments… The agreement excludes talent, likenesses and voices.” – Robb Dunewood (02:18)

Google’s AI Initiatives & Publisher Partnerships

Timestamp: 02:58

• Google News Initiative:
  • Launch of a pilot program paying major publishers (e.g., The Guardian, Washington Post) to test AI-powered article overviews.
  • Aims to both engage audiences and compensate for potential web traffic losses.
  • Includes other features: audio briefings, global expansion of preferred sources, and updates to the Gemini app.
• Mobile Expansion:
  • Gemini AI is coming to Chrome on iPhone and iPad.
  • Accessible by a “Spark” icon replacing Google Lens in Chrome’s address bar.
  • Allows page summaries, content modification, and topic explanations.
  • Available only to signed-in users 18+ in the US (03:27, 04:31).
• User Advisory: “Users should be aware of the potential for AI inaccuracies and hallucinations.” – Robb Dunewood (04:31)

Legal & Regulatory Developments in AI

Timestamp: 03:27

• State Attorneys General Issue AI Warning:
  • Bipartisan group warns 13 major tech companies (Microsoft, Meta, Google, Apple, others) about dangers of chatbot hallucinations.
  • Cites instance of a suicidal teen interacting with AI, warning of mental health risks.
  • Calls for independent audits, urges continued state powers to regulate AI.
  • Pushback against White House efforts to limit state AI regulation authority.
• Notable Quote:
  • “[The attorneys general] called for independent audits of the products and urged state and federal regulators to review them.” – Robb Dunewood (03:27)

US Travel Vetting Expansion

Timestamp: 04:00

• CBP Proposes Stricter Rules:
  • Visitors from 40 countries (including UK and France) may need to submit five years of social media, phone, email, and family info.
  • Projected longer wait times, higher costs, and possible impact on tourism.
  • Administration downplays concerns despite early tourist cancellations.

DeepMind Research Lab in the UK

Timestamp: 05:11

• New AI Lab Announced:
  • DeepMind teams up with the UK government to open a material discovery research lab in 2026.
  • Aimed at materials science: batteries, semiconductors, solar tech, superconductors.
  • Partnership emphasizes public good, responsible AI sharing with UK AI Security Institute.
• Notable Quote:
  • “The partnership, emphasized by the Prime Minister and DeepMind CEO as harnessing AI for public good and security…” – Robb Dunewood (05:11)

Social Platform Trademark Dispute

Timestamp: 05:47

• X Corp (formerly Twitter) Faces Patent Challenge:
  • Startup Operation Bluebird petitions to cancel “Twitter” and “tweet” trademarks.
  • Argues abandonment due to rebranding as X Corp.
  • If successful, they’ll launch a new “Twitter New” social network.
  • Experts skeptical of X Corp’s legal defenses post-Elon Musk’s rebrand.

TikTok’s Live Music Podcast Series

Timestamp: 06:18

• TikTok in the Mix:
  • Live podcast series launched with T-Mobile, starting December 11 at 6 PM PT.
  • Features artist interviews (first guest: Demi Lovato discussing album and rumored Zara Larsson collab).
  • Intention: deepen artist-fan bonds and explore music culture.
• Notable Quote:
  • “The series will feature conversations with major artists with the first episode hosting Demi Lovato…” – Robb Dunewood (06:18)

App Download Rankings 2025

Timestamp: 06:50

• ChatGPT Tops iPhone Charts:
  • ChatGPT is the most downloaded free iPhone app of 2025.
  • Other top apps: Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Gemini.
  • Top paid apps/games: Block Blast, Minecraft, YouTube, Procreate, Roblox.
• Significance:
  • Underscores rapid integration of AI into daily life and challenge to Google’s mobile search.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Disney has signed a three-year licensing deal with OpenAI…” – Robb Dunewood (02:18)
• “A bipartisan group of state attorneys general sent a warning letter to 13 companies… citing media reports of a teen discussing suicide with an AI…” – Robb Dunewood (03:27)
• “TikTok is launching a four episode live podcast series called TikTok in the Mix… the first episode hosting Demi Lovato…” – Robb Dunewood (06:18)
• “OpenAI’s ChatGPT was the most downloaded free iPhone app in the US for 2025…” – Robb Dunewood (06:50)

Episode Structure & Timestamps

• [02:18] – Disney and OpenAI partnership
• [02:58] – Google News & AI initiatives
• [03:27] – State AGs warn about chatbot risks
• [04:00] – US travel vetting expansion
• [04:31] – Google Gemini comes to iOS Chrome
• [05:11] – DeepMind UK research lab
• [05:47] – Twitter trademark dispute
• [06:18] – TikTok 'In the Mix' podcast series
• [06:50] – 2025 app download rankings

Summary Takeaway

This episode presents a snapshot of how AI is reshaping partnerships, media, regulation, security, and pop culture, from Disney’s billion-dollar bet on generative AI, to Google’s push for AI news and product integrations, to legal and regulatory challenges. Listeners walk away with a sense of the accelerating impact – and scrutiny – of artificial intelligence in everyday life.