Bob Iger Returns/Disney CEO Thread (2022)

[HandsomePete]

Disney Activist Investor: Studio Should Embrace AI to Create Characters, Improve Parks

Blackwells Capital, an activist firm run by Jason Aintabi, is campaigning for board seats at Disney’s annual meeting set for April 3 and unveiled a "vision" statement Monday.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Let's be very clear: these people have no ideas.

“Disney should be dominating in the fields of spatial computing and AI (artificial intelligence). Few companies have the potential of Disney to synthesize these revolutionizing technologies, and relate them to consumers with the impact, and ROI, that Disney can. Spatial computing has far more relevance to Disney than it does to either Apple or Meta, for example,” Aintabi said in a “Vision for the Future of Technology at Disney” strategic plan released Monday.

I feel dumber for having read that.

 

[Jake S]

“We would also like our company to start dumping endless amounts of money into a black hole.”

 

[belloq87]

That guy is thinking of Disney as a tech company. And that's the entire problem. Disney is not a tech company, should not be valued as a tech company, and should not continue trying to become one.

I think the Disney board absolutely needs a slap across the face/glass of cold water to the face, because I have basically no trust in Iger's or any of their instincts at this point, but none of these people are the ones to do it, unfortunately.

 

[MrRoamer]

That guy is thinking of Disney as a tech company. And that's the entire problem. Disney is not a tech company, should not be valued as a tech company, and should not continue trying to become one.

I think the Disney board absolutely needs a slap across the face/glass of cold water to the face, because I have basically no trust in Iger's or any of their instincts at this point, but none of these people are the ones to do it, unfortunately.

I think it depends on how you look at it. It's weird because they are so advanced in some areas but also so backwards in different areas.

From an AI standpoint I think Disney is in a unique position that could do some pretty amazing things, but there is a very fine line in what is and what is viewed as a positive vs a negative.

 

[fryoj]

I think it depends on how you look at it. It's weird because they are so advanced in some areas but also so backwards in different areas.

From an AI standpoint I think Disney is in a unique position that could do some pretty amazing things, but there is a very fine line in what is and what is viewed as a positive vs a negative.

There's some pretty fun ideas that they could use AI for in the parks. Imagine a personalized character that could follow you around the park on screens or your phone that was a personalized guide that could answer questions, make suggestions, make reservations, order food, etc.

 

[Jake S]

Imagine a personalized character that could follow you around the park on screens or your phone that was a personalized guide that could answer questions, make suggestions, make reservations, order food, etc.

this sounds like an absolute nightmare

 

[Tobias]

There's some pretty fun ideas that they could use AI for in the parks. Imagine a personalized character that could follow you around the park on screens or your phone that was a personalized guide that could answer questions, make suggestions, make reservations, order food, etc.

A couple things come to mind.

That sounds like Clippy, and I did NOT care for Clippy one bit, so that's an instant NO for me.

Also, considering how a lot of Disney's tech can just not work well, that is not something I'd want them delving into.

 

[tielo]

AI is not a magical thing (no pun intended). It's a tool and needs craft people using them to get something decent from it.
This company should be a creative company, currently it's not and it hasn't been for a long time. I expect everyone who had it's hart into creativity left or died inside.

 

[Nico]

 

[Jake S]

Woof. That is a short tenure.

 

[HandsomePete]

Woof. That is a short tenure.

It’s tough coming from the outside to a group like WDI. The fact that she called out “unprecedented hyperescalation on projects” in her Instagram post about leaving kind of says she didn’t know what group of people she was signing up to lead.

 

[Jake S]

It’s tough coming from the outside to a group like WDI. The fact that she called out “unprecedented hyperescalation on projects” in her Instagram post about leaving kind of says she didn’t know what group of people she was signing up to lead.

Yeah, apologies if that came off as a dig. I think it speaks as much to the culture as it does to her tenure.

 

[Mad Dog]

Imagineers and hyper inflation basically mean the same.

 

[Nick]

Nothing has really gotten done over the past three years and it’s seemingly not her fault but the company as a whole saying they don’t have enough money yet to fund the parks. I also imagine she didn’t realize how, um… “passionate” Disney fans are when taking the job.

 

[saint.piss]

 

[tielo]

Am I the only one who hates to be refured to as a "consumer" instead of a "guest" or "customer"?

 

[Mad Dog]

Good to see that result. Iger might not be the greatest, but the Peltz group would probably treat Disney like Blackstone treated SeaWorld/BG....Bottom line. This is good news for theme park fans.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Good to see that result. Iger might not be the greatest, but the Peltz group would probably treat Disney like Blackstone treated SeaWorld/BG....Bottom line. This is good news for theme park fans.

I agree but also we need new leadership

Iger had a good run but it's time for someone with a vision for the company

 

[GA-MBIT]

I think we're seeing the best result. Peltz would've torn Disney apart for scraps, but at least Iger might understand how precarious of a situation the whole company is in right now and could make the right steps to right the ship going forward.

 

[belloq87]

I hope this proxy scare was enough of a wake up call to cause some real shifts in strategy across basically all of Disney.

I'm skeptical.