
By Debra Kaufman
Is ChatGPT taking over Hollywood? AI inroads into M&E was the focus of discussion at HPA NET's May 2 gathering at the Universal Sheraton. Subject matter experts helmed ten roundtables, posing provocative questions and keeping the sold-out crowd buzzing into the evening.
Although these tools have been part of the industry for the past several years, 2022's spectacular breakthroughs, including DALL-E, which creates pictures from language prompts and ChatGPT, a natural language processing tool, made this the perfect time to explore the topic. All the major tech companies - think Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft - are deeply invested in pushing AI forward. Evidence of that is a recent research report, published by Microsoft, that reported that its new AI system was showing signs of artificial general intelligence (AGI) which, says The New York Times, is shorthand for a machine that can do anything the human brain can do.
In Hollywood, artificial intelligence has inserted itself into nearly every workflow. Results have largely been laudatory, but also sparked fears of job loss and other potential negative impacts. Witness the writers' strike, in part motivated by the concern that ChatGPT-like AI tools will replace writers. That was the focus of the table led by showrunner Jack Dolgen and director C. Craig Patterson, who addressed why AI writing will always need the human touch.
Actors have also been impacted by AI for some time. In the mid-2000s AI tools were used to de-age actors, and later to create fully digital versions of deceased actors, such as Star Wars' Carrie Fisher and Fast & Furious star Paul Walker. Now, actors, musicians and other performers are routinely scanned (sometimes at the behest of the studios producing franchises they star in) for future use - an asset that can be legally inherited by their heirs. Tom Hanks recently told The Adam Buxton Podcast on BBC that he'll be able to act forever, as a combination of AI and deepfake technology. I hosted a table to discuss the issues that arise with both synthetic actors and deepfakes.
Artificial intelligence, in combination with other technologies such as CGI, has already had an impact on pre-production with previsualization and remote location scouting and casting. Like Minded Labs Director of Solutions Matt Herson, who led the table Pixel Pioneers: Unleashing the Future of Pre-Viz with AI-Driven Workflow, explored the implications of these technological developments.
On the set, virtual production has been boosted by generative AI. In Virtual Producer, journalist Noah Kadner reports on Cuebric, which debuted in January this year with production company XR Studios, and now brings generative AI technology to filmmakers and creatives.
Visual effects, post production and distribution also have plenty of complicated and labor-intensive processes that are already benefiting from AI, a trend that is only likely to expand over time. Three HPA NET tables focused discussion on these topics: Light Iron workflow manager Justin Potter on AI in DI, Colourlab color scientist/CEO/founder Dado Valentic on finishing, and Evercast chief strategy officer JP Castel on AI's impact on metadata collection.
AI tools also offer solutions for decision-making, such as Cinelytic, in use at Warner Bros. Studios, Sony Pictures, Ingenious Media, Productivity Media and STX Entertainment. Fox Entertainment director of post production and technology Payton List hosted a roundtable on The Pros and Cons of AI: a Studio Perspective and Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) program director Yves Bergquist led a discussion on how to insert generative AI into creative organizations.
In addition to Cinelytic, other AI startups offering decision-making tools to Hollywood executives include ScriptBook, which predicts a movie's success by analyzing its script; Vault, which predicts which demographics will watch films by tracking how trailers are received online; and Pilot, offering box office forecasts up to 18 months before films launch.
How real are all these claims? Will movies be made entirely by algorithms? Will people lose jobs if these tools are implemented, gain new ones focused on managing AI, or both? HPA NET will continue to host conversations exploring these questions and concerns and others as the role of AI in the industry continues to evolve.
Most recent headlines
09/11/2025
Dalet today announced a transformative leap forward for media operations: Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) that unifies the Dalet ecosystem under one natura...
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
17/09/2025
Earlier this year Avid announced Kenna Hilburn as its new senior vice president of product. Recently Hilburn was promoted to Avids new Chief Product Officer, su...
17/09/2025
Transatlantic collaboration combines experience and agility to drive innovation in network design and delivery
Luxembourg, September 16, 2025 - SES, a leading ...
17/09/2025
NEW YORK Madhive has announced that the Fox Television Stations have joined its Live Sports Marketplace....
17/09/2025
SYRACUSE, N.Y. Sony Electronics has announced that it is partnering with the Newhouse School at Syracuse University to provide state-of-the-art equipment, hands...
17/09/2025
SAN JOSE, Calif. Roku has announced that the first smart projector using its Roku TV operating system, the Aurzen Roku TV Smart Projector D1R Cube, is now avail...
16/09/2025
SVG All-Stars: Leigh Michaud, Manager, Remote Operations, ESPNThe UConn grad rose from ESPN's mailroom to become one of its most valuable ops leadersBy Bran...
16/09/2025
Live From IBC 2025: Friday's Latest From Halls 1-4, Outdoor Exhibits in Amst...
16/09/2025
Live From IBC 2025: Saturday's Latest From Halls 5-7 in Amsterdam By SVG Staff
Friday, September 12, 2025 - 17:00
Print This Story
The SVG Europe and ...
16/09/2025
Live From IBC 2025: Sunday's Latest From Halls 8-10 in Amsterdam By SVG Staff
Saturday, September 13, 2025 - 17:00
Print This Story
The SVG Europe and...
16/09/2025
Live From IBC 2025: Monday's Latest From Halls 11-14 in Amsterdam By SVG Staff
Sunday, September 14, 2025 - 17:00
Print This Story
The SVG Europe and ...
16/09/2025
Amazon Prime Video Picks Up Four Hours of Early-Round Masters Coverage in 2026By Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 - 10:15 a...
16/09/2025
VERSANT Inks Deal for League One Volleyball as Women's Sports Rights Slate G...
16/09/2025
ESPN VP, Corporate Communications, Katina Arnold Named SVP, Disney Advertising C...
16/09/2025
IBC 2025 in Review: SVG Europe's Full Collection of Video Interviews From th...
16/09/2025
Hace una d cada, la m sica latina representaba apenas el 8% de las reproducciones globales en Spotify. Hoy, constituye m s de una cuarta parte (27%) de toda la ...
16/09/2025
A decade ago, Latin music made up just 8% of global Spotify streams. Today, it a...
16/09/2025
Spotify is expanding our video lineup with a new partnership with Zoo 55, part of ITV Studios. For the first time, acclaimed content from ITV Studios is landing...
16/09/2025
At DSEI 2025, James Dunne of L3Harris Maritime UK chaired a panel on aligning the supply chain to the warfighter, where leaders discussed modernising support fo...
16/09/2025
Calrec has strengthened its collaboration with audio metering expert RTW by integrating RTW's new TMxCore metering platform across its full range of Argo IP...
16/09/2025
College Football Scores Top Telecast in August with 16M+ Viewers on FOX, Followe...
16/09/2025
Collaboration marks the first SSP integration of Gracenote IDs, enabling show-le...
16/09/2025
AMSTERDAM The organizers of IBC2025 are reporting that 43,858 visitors from more than 170 countries attended the event, which had more than 1,300 exhibitors and...
16/09/2025
Wooden Camera announces the release of its new Accessory Collection for the FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA 55. The highlights of this collection include vital power soluti...
16/09/2025
Anton/Bauer, a leading manufacturer of mobile power solutions for broadcast and cinematic equipment, has announced the launch of Anton/Bauer Fleet Management, a...
16/09/2025
Teradek, a leading provider of video transmission and live production solutions, today announced the launch of Prism Jetpack, a groundbreaking 5G video contribu...
16/09/2025
Astera, the leader in wireless LED lighting solutions, announces the ultra-versatile SolaBulb. Building on the success of the Astera bulb family, SolaBulb intro...
16/09/2025
As the world gathered at TED2025 to explore the provocative theme "Humanity Reimagined", Clear-Com , supported by NETGEAR networking infrastructure, delivered f...
16/09/2025
Bitfocus' Buttons platform celebrated as a catalyst for AV and broadcast convergence
Bitfocus has been named winner of the IABM Impact Award Pro AV Chan...
16/09/2025
Record entries and outstanding innovation celebrated at IBC2025 as the MediaTech community honors its leading people, projects and organizations
IABM announced...
16/09/2025
Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation (SJC), a leading satellite operator and pay-TV provider in Japan, has partnered with H...
16/09/2025
Telestream congratulates Sky Group, which has been awarded the prestigious IBC Innovation Award for Content Distribution for its MediaMesh platform on Sunday, S...
16/09/2025
Leading space solutions company will use optical ground stations to deliver faster, more secure data from space
Luxembourg, September 15, 2025 - SES, a leading...
16/09/2025
NOVI, Mich. ENCO has unveiled Raptor, a cloud-based live streaming captioning encoder that injects the speed, power and reliability of real-time AI capabilities...
16/09/2025
NEW YORK Comcast NBCUniversal and NBCUniversal Local have announced that a total of $2.5 million has been awarded in 2025 to 69 nonprofit organizations servicin...
16/09/2025
AMSTERDAM Martin Euredjian has joined Atomos as director of advanced imaging and will lead innovation for advanced display technology....
16/09/2025
AMSTERDAM Calrec introduced a 48-faced Argo M and showcased its largest Argo software updates at the recently concluded IBC2025....
16/09/2025
AMSTERDAM Lawo introduced its HOME Audio Shuffler app, a replacement for a traditional baseband audio matrix within an IP-based Dynamic Media Facility, during t...
16/09/2025
CBS is reporting that the 77TH Emmy Awards hosted by Nate Bargatze on Sunday Sept. 14 was seen by more than 7.42 million viewers on the CBS Television Network a...
16/09/2025
The U.K. is driving investments in sovereign AI, using the technology to advance...
16/09/2025
Back to All News
Meet the Adversaries That Will Clash in Rulers of Fortune, a S...
16/09/2025
Back to All News
Would You Take 30 Million Baht from a Dead Persons Account? E...
16/09/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Unveils the Official Trailer and Poster for She Walks ...
16/09/2025
Comscore Unveils The Scoreboard: An Interactive Destination Surfacing Consumer B...
15/09/2025
Steve Zahn, Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, and Janeane Garofalo star in Ben Stiller&...
15/09/2025
Global K-Pop sensation aespa is redefining what it means to be rich with the r...
15/09/2025
Every day, millions of people around the world turn to Spotify to enjoy the audi...
15/09/2025
After months of intensive planning and implementation, Brembo SGL Carbon Ceramic...
15/09/2025
A U.S. Marine launches a Javelin shoulder-fired anti-tank missile during a training exercise. (Photo credit: U.S. Marine Corps)...