Adobe and Disney Sign Multi-Year AI Alliance to Build Custom Firefly Models

What happened

Announced at Adobe MAX, the alliance makes Adobe Disney's official AI innovation partner. The two companies will use Firefly Foundry to develop custom models tailored to Disney's character attributes, environments and visual styles; Adobe describes the process as human-centered and artist-led, aiming for commercially safe output.

The models will not be released to the public; they are for Disney's internal use only. Disney also gets early access to Adobe's latest tools, including Firefly, Firefly Foundry, Premiere and Photoshop, along with dedicated Adobe engineering and research resources. Adobe will also join The Walt Disney Studios' StudioLAB innovation program.

The work spans three lines: theme-park design (Imagineering), film production (StudioLAB) and sports content (ESPN Edge). Imagineering has already used Firefly Foundry since June to turn sketches into concept art. The companies disclosed no financial terms, contract length or product timetable, and announced no specific products.

Key facts

1. Announcement: A multi-year strategic alliance announced on Nov 9 at Adobe MAX in Miami Beach
2. Adobe's role: Disney's official AI innovation partner
3. Core technology: Firefly Foundry, building custom generative AI models based on Disney characters and worlds
4. Model use: For Disney's internal use only, not released to the public
5. Tool access: Disney gets early access to Firefly, Firefly Foundry, Premiere, Photoshop and other latest tools
6. Coverage: Theme parks (Imagineering), film studios (StudioLAB), sports content (ESPN Edge)
7. Existing work: Imagineering has used Firefly Foundry since Jun 16 to turn sketches into concept art
8. Not disclosed: No financial terms, contract length, specific products or timetable were published