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Any Details??? UCLA AI Edition
A kindly reader recently sent me a link to a white paper produced by UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. Titled “Igniting AI Adoption: Positioning Studios & Entertainment Companies for AI Transformation”, this reader figured it was Steve-bait. Correct!
Longtime subscribers know of my ongoing series “Any Details???” wherein I continually get annoyed at the way AI technology is written about as it relates to entertainment. An inclusion in “Any Details???” means the writing is vague and the technology’s promise is offloaded into the future, which is an annoying tendency of technology discussions since social media companies started using it as a marketing trick in the late 2000s.
I also always have to include this proviso: I am not anti-AI! For instance, my contacts in post-production tell me that a great use case for generative AI is having it train on the documentation for the powerful but complicated video transcoding software ffmpeg. It can recommend command lines to help you generate a better output. This is good! It is a major time-saver.
The Anderson white paper does not talk about AI this way. Instead, examine how it describes how AI drives “Studio Innovation”:
Lionsgate is integrating AI to streamline capabilities across areas such as post-production and distribution… [A distribution executive] has worked with his team to leverage AI for content licensing through building tailored content packages to enhance the performance of Lionsgate titles across platforms and increase value for partners.
OK but… how? Like, what does using AI for “building tailored content packages to enhance the performance of… titles across platforms and increase value for partners” actually look like? What are you doing? I’m just extrapolating but is someone simply asking ChatGPT for ideas for programming? That’s the only conclusion I can draw because this is so vague. The purpose of the white paper is to increase AI evangelism in entertainment, but how do you expect enthusiasm without strong use cases? Your best example of studio innovation is a vague description of creating content packages?
Under “VFX, Animation, & Production Enhancement” we find this:
As Guy Bisson, Executive Director at Ampere Analysis, aptly noted: “The expectation is above the reality at present, but we’re getting there very quickly.” Given that it still has technical limits, such as video resolution caps, AI can be seen as a tool to complement other production methods to produce optimal VFX outcomes. The untapped potential for AI only furthers the importance of early experimentation to capitalize on future capabilities.
The heading is about how AI “enhances” VFX, animation, and production, but one of the first things written is that “expectation is above reality” and that more experimentation is needed to “capitalize on future capabilities.” Sure, agreed on the latter, but that’s not really a direct example of an enhancement, is it? Are VFX companies particularly motivated to mess around with a tool that may not do what they want/need it to do?
The white paper recommends these “incentives to drive engagement”:
Include AI adoption goals in annual performance reviews and career plans, with clear AI skill development goals for promotions and bonuses.
Recognize AI Champions through meeting shout-outs and newsletters, documenting achievements and encouraging adoption.
Launch project-based AI fellowships for employees to lead AI pilots or innovation projects for three to six months, with a dedicated budget, resources and leadership exposure.
How about this: show people how it works and how it can improve their job. This is how technology in the workplace has been introduced since time immemorial. It is possible! Just check out this story via Wired about AI unearthing a 15 year old Linux bug:
Notably, Nebula found the bug with VEGA, its AI-driven bug-hunting tool, part of a 2026 run of Linux privilege-escalation flaws surfaced by automated tools combing old kernel code few had reread in years.
The blunder was embarrassing—but also triggered a revelation within the government. “The situation demonstrated that AI can be an incredibly useful assistant,” Kristen Michal, Estonia’s prime minister, told WIRED. “And—in the form of a vibe-coded platform to check draft legislation created in response to the incident—we saw an example of how agentic tools can empower civil society and individual citizens.”
If Linux and Estonia can so easily demonstrate solid use cases for AI implementation, I’m sure entertainment can do better than this vague bullshit!
An Unhealthy “Obsession” with Streaming
Just thought I’d highlight Sonny Bunch’s reaction to Universal’s decision to send the indie hit Obsession to Peacock later this month:
The studios have allowed tech and media conglomerates to completely break their formerly-lucrative business model in order to chase fast cash, while also training the next generation of potential moviegoers to just stay home.
This zero budget movie has cultural staying power and continues to pull in theater money two months after its initial release, and Universal is going to sabotage that to… drive traffic to Peacock???
Kernels (3 links worth making popcorn for)
Here’s a round-up of cool and interesting links about Hollywood and technology:
How they accomplished that shot in Evil Dead Burn. (link)
AI microdramas are here! (link)
The best external hard drives. (link)