Character.AI removes Disney characters from platform after studio issues warning
Princess Elsa from "Frozen" and "Star Wars" villain Darth Vader were among the Disney characters the chatbot impersonated.
www.nbcnews.comHere’s a quick update on Character.AI, based on the latest publicly reported coverage.
-
Ongoing platform updates and features
- Character.AI has rolled out various feature updates in 2025 focused on creator tools, user customization, and an enhanced social/creator workflow. These include improvements to character profiles, chat starters, and creator tools like avatars, scenes, and imagine-based chats to boost storytelling and engagement.[1][2][4]
- The company has experimented with a social/newsfeed style experience to let users interact with AI personas more publicly, as part of efforts to broaden content creation and sharing around AI characters.[5]
-
Safety, policy, and age-related changes
- In late 2025, Character.AI announced a major policy change to restrict under-18 users from open-ended chats with the platform’s characters, with phased restrictions leading up to a formal age limitation. This move was reported in multiple outlets as part of addressing safety concerns and regulatory pressure.[2][7]
-
Leadership, licensing, and workforce
- Reports in mid-2025 indicated leadership changes and licensing deals as Character.AI pursued strategic partnerships and expanded its technology footprint, including discussions around multimodal capabilities and licensing relationships with big tech players. These developments appear in business-focused outlets covering leadership, funding, and partnerships.[3]
-
Notable governance and platform changes
- There have been mentions of incidents prompting moderation actions, such as policy responses to third-party content requests (e.g., removal of certain characters) and safety-focused adjustments to how characters can impersonate real media franchises or individuals. These reflect ongoing governance around content and IP on the platform.[9][10]
If you’d like, I can pull more precise details on any specific item (for example, the exact feature names, the dates of particular updates, or the current safety policy status) and provide brief summaries with direct citations.