The week's developments on the intersection of AI and creative content | 31.10.23

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Talks between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP wrapped up this weekend without a final agreement, but hope remains on both sides. Amidst warnings from studios about potential summer 2024 movie disruptions if no settlement is reached soon, union members  — including renowned actors  — have rallied behind SAG-AFTRA, urging for continued dialogue.

Never sure what film to watch? "Pix" may be your new solution. Launched on October 5th, this AI-powered tool, boasting a colossal dataset from 6 million users, offers curated streaming suggestions. 

Explore these stories — and the latest details from the AI Beatles, to the future of horror CGI — in the CogX Must Reads.  

I hope you enjoy it!

Charlie and the Research and Intelligence team

P.S. After an incredible CogX Festival 2023, we're gearing up for another year of cutting-edge innovation, game-changing breakthroughs, and endless inspiration. Don't miss out – grab your super early bird tickets now and secure your spot at CogX Festival 2024 today!

CogX Must Reads

Top Stories

SAG-AFTRA talks concluded 

Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP concluded over the weekend without a deal, but with increased optimism. While studios warned of potential 2024 summer movie disruptions if no agreement is reached by early November, thousands of union members, including prominent actors backed the union’s negotiation stance. (Hollywood Reporter)

Insights from UNESCO AI filmmaking conference

UNESCO’s Paris conference discussed AI's impact on filmmaking, highlighting the need for global institutions to guide AI regulations and protect human creativity. Joseph McGinty Nichol, director of Charlie's Angels, warned AI might replace film professionals, and concerns were raised about AI replicating actors' likenesses and potential plagiarism. (AI in Hollywood)

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Industry

Fight Club director explores AI filmmaking

Director David Fincher, known for his pioneering use of digital technologies in films, outlined his beliefs that true art requires a human touch. Fincher does see potential in AI projects that embrace their inherent artificiality, but remains unconvinced until he encounters AI-created content that genuinely moves him. (Indie Wire)

Pix AI to help choose what film to watch

Pix is an AI-driven entertainment recommendation tool that harnesses a dataset of 600 million preferences from 6 million users to offer streaming suggestions. CEO Ian Morris emphasises that Pix transcends typical chatbots, aiming to embed AI as a daily utility for users. (Hollywood Reporter)

Film

Short film explores dystopian AI future

Short film "Literally No Place" by Daniel Felstead and Jenn Leung explores AI's influence on popular culture, through AI-generated Julia Fox. The film addresses the potential utopian or dystopian futures of AI and critiques the binary debates that often dominate AI discussions. The film stresses active participation in AI discourse, and warns of the increasing religious imagery emerging in AI dialogues. (Dazed Digital)

AI-supported CGI in horror

The horror film genre is evolving from traditional props to advanced CGI. Traditionally horror has proved successful on low-budget films, hence the high costs of CGI raise concerns for producers. As AI-supported CGI becomes more accessible, it could elevate horror, but unique storytelling remains important. (Verdict)

Entertainment

ABBA warns of challenge AI will bring to the music industry

ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus has expressed concerns about the potential impact of AI on the music industry. Whilst a recent report showed royalty collections for songwriters and composers have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, Ulvaeus stressed that AI poses significant future challenges, and will drastically alter the entire creative sector. (NME)

The Beatles are back — thanks to AI

The last recorded Beatles song, "Now and Then," will be released due to AI. Originally written by John Lennon in the 1970s and shelved due to tech limitations, modern advancements have now isolated the song's components. New parts from McCartney, Starr, and a 1995 Harrison guitar recording have been integrated, along with elements from the Beatles' archives. (Guardian)

Quote of the Week

"It’s manufactured content. It’s almost like AI making a film. And that doesn’t mean that you don’t have incredible directors and special effects people doing beautiful artwork. But what does it mean?’"

- Martin Scorsese on the Marvel Cinematic Universe 

In case you missed it

Discover the game-changing capabilities of AI motion capture – enabling the seamless fusion of physical and digital realities – set to democratise animation at an unprecedented scale, at the CogX Festival 2023.

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