Five artificial intelligence companies make up the 2026 Disney Accelerator class: FieldAI, Physical Intelligence, Promise, OpenArt and Simile.
The mix covers robots that work in physical spaces, generative tools for film and visual content, and systems that simulate people and markets. Every company in this year's group has AI at the center of its product.
The five companies
- FieldAI develops foundation models intended to help robots operate in unpredictable real-world settings.
- Physical Intelligence builds general-purpose artificial intelligence for robots.
- Promise is a production studio focused on movies and television made with generative AI tools.
- OpenArt provides tools for creating and editing visual content with AI.
- Simile builds simulations populated by digital representations of people.
The companies will work with Disney leadership and business teams during the program. The 2026 Accelerator began in July and concludes with a Demo Day in November. The program uses a hybrid format with key weeks at Disney's headquarters in Glendale, California.
Disney has used past Accelerator classes to explore augmented reality, robotics, gaming and production technology. This year's list is narrower. The practical question will be which experiments move from the demonstration stage into Disney's studios, parks or consumer businesses.
Sources: current reports from Daps Magic and LaughingPlace, plus the official Disney Accelerator site and 2026 program FAQ.
Image: The Walt Disney Company.