Welcome to This Week's AIography!

In the dynamic landscape of modern filmmaking, AI is proving to be a game changer, opening doors to creativity that were previously unimaginable. This week, we dive deep into Hollywood's AI revolution, exploring groundbreaking union agreements, the reshaping of the industry, and the buzz around AI-generated commercials.

We'll peek into Apple's ambitious AI plans for its Vision Pro headset and examine how new AI video production tools are serving as creative partners for filmmakers. Don't miss our Short Takes for quick insights on AI's broader impact, from revolutionary lip-sync tools to AI-generated art debates. Buckle up for an informative journey through the latest developments in AI and creativity!

In today’s AIography:

• IATSE deal allows AI with strict conditions

• Generative AI reshapes Hollywood; ethical navigation needed

• Runway Gen-3 AI boosts video production realism

• Apple expands AI to Vision Pro headset

• AI enhances, not replaces, creative roles

• AI "slop" art blurs reality, sparks debates

Read time: About 5 minutes

THE LATEST NEWS

LABOR
IATSE deal allows AI with strict conditions 🎥

TL;DR: IATSE's new agreement with film studios allows controlled AI use in production, ensuring union job protection, with provisions for AI training, consultations, and a ban on outsourcing AI roles.

Key Takeaways:

• IATSE signed a new agreement with studios allowing AI use in film production with specific guidelines and conditions.

• The deal includes provisions for AI skill training and consultations, plus a prohibition on outsourcing AI jobs to non-union labor.

• Workers owning AI systems can charge a kit rental fee, aligning with the existing practice for other equipment.

• The agreement features safeguards like severance pay for AI-related job losses, emphasizing protection against job displacement.

Why it’s important:  The IATSE agreement sets a precedent in the entertainment industry, balancing technological progress with labor protections. It ensures union workers are prepared and compensated for AI integration, mitigating job displacement threats while adapting to industry innovations.

SURVEY
Generative AI reshapes Hollywood; ethical navigation needed 🎬

TL;DR: A survey shows 80% of Hollywood's decision-makers are adopting generative AI, mainly in VFX and concept design, though consumer skepticism about AI in creative roles remains high.

Key Takeaways:

• 80% of M&E decision-makers are exploring or incorporating generative AI, with 49% having implemented solutions.

• Generative AI is applied in concept design and VFX; challenges include need for skilled personnel and legal issues.

• Only 34% of consumers are comfortable with AI-generated scripts, preferring human-driven narrative creativity.

• Future AI integration in Hollywood requires ethical navigation, transparency, and collaboration between humans and AI.

Why it’s important: Hollywood is at a crossroads with generative AI adoption escalating rapidly among executives, yet facing critical hurdles like talent shortages and public skepticism, especially around creative content. The sector's future hinges on balancing innovation with ethical practices and public expectations.

TOOLS
Runway Gen-3 AI boosts video production realism 🎥

TL;DR: Yesterday, Runway released it’s Gen-3 AI model to the public. Gen-3 introduces advanced video production capabilities, extending clip lengths and enhancing realism, poised to transform the film industry by democratizing high-quality VFX. Check out the Gen-3 Alpha Prompting Guide and become an expert at generating stunning visual clips.

Key Takeaways:

• Runway's Gen-3 AI model significantly enhances video realism and extends clip length to 10-11 seconds.

• Designed for the Creative Partners Program, it boosts natural motion in video, offering better quality content.

• Early users report high satisfaction, showcasing use in diverse scenarios like film, music videos and aging simulations.

• Gen-3 AI democratizes high-quality VFX for indie filmmakers, potentially transforming film industry standards.

Why it’s important: Runway's Gen-3 AI is a game-changer for indie filmmakers, offering them tools previously exclusive to big-budget productions. This technology democratizes high-quality visual effects, enabling a surge in innovative, diverse video content and potentially reshaping industry standards in film production.

APPLE
Apple expands AI to Vision Pro headset 🤖

TL;DR: Apple is enhancing its Vision Pro mixed reality headset by integrating its proprietary Apple Intelligence AI, aiming to improve user interaction and set market trends.

Key Takeaways:

• Apple is expanding its AI technology, Apple Intelligence, to include the Vision Pro mixed reality headset.

• The inclusion is part of a broader strategy to enhance user experiences across all devices with advanced features.

• Integration challenges include adapting AI for the Vision Pro’s immersive three-dimensional mixed reality environment.

• Implementing AI in the Vision Pro aims to improve user engagement, set market trends, and unify device interfaces.

Why it’s important: Apple’s integration of AI into the Vision Pro could revolutionize the AR/VR sector by setting new standards for user engagement and interaction, potentially leading the trend in how future technologies are developed across the industry.

OPINION
AI enhances, not replaces, creative roles 🎨

TL;DR: Tom Demetriou, Executive Creative Director at BarkleyOKRP, shares this thoughts about AI's transformative role in enhancing, not replacing, human creativity in the creative industries, urging a balanced and ethical integration of AI tools.

Key Takeaways:

• Tom Demetriou discusses the impact of AI on creative industries, often contrasting feared job replacement with actual enhancement.

• AI tools like Midjourney are transforming creative processes, speeding up presentations and improving idea visualization.

• Demetriou views AI as a collaborative tool that augments human creativity, rather than replacing it.

• The article calls for a balanced approach to AI in creativity, emphasizing enhancement over displacement and ethical usage.

Why it’s important: Tom Demetriou’s perspective is crucial as it represents a shift from viewing AI as a threat to recognizing it as a transformative ally in creativity, suggesting a future where human and machine collaboration could lead to unprecedented creative breakthroughs.

OPINION
AI "slop" art blurs reality, sparks debates 🎨

TL;DR: The rise of AI-generated "slop" art on social media sparks debates about its legitimacy as art, challenging traditional artistic values and redefining digital expression and creativity.

Key Takeaways:

• AI-generated "slop" art floods social media, blending surrealism and absurdity, attracting viewer attention and engagement.

• Experts debate whether AI-created visuals, challenging traditional art concepts by using algorithms, constitute legitimate art.

• The presence of AI in art prompts discussions on authenticity, pushing artists and viewers to reassess digital artistic expression.

• Despite skepticism, potential grows for AI as a valid artistic tool, evolving appreciation for its expressive and emotive capabilities.

Why it’s important: This trend spotlights the expanding influence of AI in art, igniting crucial debates on the essence and authenticity of art. As AI reshapes artistic expression, it forces a reevaluation of creativity in the digital era, indicating a pivotal shift in cultural dialogue and artistic norms.

ESSENTIAL TOOLS

Tools to Check Out

Essential tools page/database still under construction. Until then, check out and bookmark the following pages. Exploring what they have to offer will provide a solid foundation in understanding what these tools can do. Most of the web-based tools are quite similar, with varying functionality. This hands-on experience will not only enhance your skills but also keep you ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving world of AI filmmaking.

• RunwayML - The first mover and leading vendor of AI Video-gen and editing tools. Look at their Gen-2 feature

• ChatGPT - You’re probably already using this one

• Claude 3.5 Sonnet - Claude’s new model that’s taking the chatbot world by storm.

• PikaLabs - The closest competitor to Runway but coming on fast

• Midjourney - Leader in still image gen.

• Pixverse - Another good video generator. Simple to use.

• Haiper - Video generator founded by people from DeepMind 7 Tiktok

• ElevenLabs - Powerful AI voice generator

• Suno - Currently considered the best AI music generator

SHORT TAKES

• 🦒 Toys "R" Us released an AI-generated commercial using OpenAI's Sora, sparking debate about the role of AI in creativity, job displacement

• 🎨Leonardo.ai’s new image model, Phoenix, offers superior style adherence and features real-time editing in the AI-generated imagery market.

• 🎸will.i.am on why AI could be the key to the creative revolution

• 📸Magnific AI launches Relight for easy image edits

• 🤡Hedra AI revolutionizes animated character creation

• 👄Runway's lip-sync tool, using AI, simplifies creating realistic lip-synced videos, essential for various professional uses.

ONE MORE THING…

AI Trailer of the Week

AI Filmmaker Mark Wachholz has won 1st Place in the Curious Refuge AI Trailer Competition. His project, “The Day The World Prayed” is a concept trailer for a limited TV series. The trailer was made entirely with AI image and video tools. Using Midjourney v6 for AI image creation and RunwayML Gen-2 for AI video creation. The voices were generated with Elevenlabs, and some music was composed using Udio. ChatGPT helped immensely with planning, brainstorming, proofreading, and constant collaboration. Additionally, EpidemicSound provided the bulk of the score music and sound effects. Check out some more of Mark’s work on his YouTube channel below.

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