Wire reporting: (Reuters, via CNA)

The Walt Disney Co. and Adobe announced a multi-year alliance Monday to co-develop proprietary generative AI models trained on Disney properties, the companies said at Adobe's MAX conference^1,2,3.

Adobe will supply Disney with early access to Firefly, Firefly Foundry, Premiere and Photoshop, plus engineering support, for theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Studios and ESPN^1,2.

Through Firefly Foundry, Disney will work with Adobe on models the companies described as human-centered and artist-led, trained on character attributes, environments and visual styles, and meant to produce commercially safe, production-ready output that remains private to Disney¹.

Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development is already using Firefly Foundry in park development, including a sketch-to-image model that turns hand-drawn concepts into rendered 2D art and a custom image model for franchise-accurate assets^1,3.

The companies said work will also run through StudioLAB, Disney's studio innovation hub, and ESPN Edge, where Adobe is to help test AI for sports storytelling, fan engagement and ESPN's archive¹.

CNA, carrying Reuters, said the deal aims to scale AI tools across Disney's theme parks, studio and sports media businesses³.

The Verge reported the announcement builds on an existing Adobe-Disney relationship and follows Disney's earlier generative AI arrangements, including a deal with OpenAI¹.

The Verge also noted Bloomberg reporting last week that Disney was preparing thousands of job cuts and seeking about 20 percent in annual cost savings, in what would be a further round of 2026 reductions¹.

Financial terms of the Adobe alliance were not disclosed in the coverage^1,2,3.