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A Virtual Event – Click Here

Digital Hollywood is Proud to Present:

Join Us and Watch – Three Days of Amazing Speakers & Roundtables

Summer AI Entertainment, Advertising & Tech Summit

Monday, July 21 – Wednesday, July 23, 2025

On the Digital Hollywood site – Free to All Attendees!

The Evening Keynote Roundtables

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025

8:00 PM – 8:50 PM: Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

The Studio • The Brand • The Agency = A Global Media & Technology Revolution

While the power of Hollywood never fades, the traditional silos of the studio, networks and celebrity are being reshuffled into a “Power-Shake-Up” of Global Brands, Mega Technologies and Global Agencies. The Result? On the one hand, consumer personalization which has always been at the forefront in decision making, now with the addition of powerful and direct AI engagement with consumers, which is only in its formative stages, will likely emerge as something of a breakthrough “Brand/Consumer Co-Pilot Relationship.” And in a world of immersive content experiences, AI as a “Creative Partner” is taking the ideation and production process to an entirely next level experience. The world will be experiencing a host of “Sphere Level” creative experiences. In this roundtable, we bring together the executives deeply involved in exploring and delivering on this promise.

Speakers:

Valerie Madden, Creative Director of Marketing Innovation, Prompteteer, Amazon MGM Studios, Prime Video & NBC Universal Alum, Moderator

Shannon Pruitt, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Stagwell Brand Performance Network

Boo Wong, Managing Director, Global Leadership Spatial Computing/XR and GenAI, Accenture Song

Adam Simon, Managing Director, IPG Media Lab

Kate Cook, Founder, Era Seven Partners, former A+E Global Media

Steve Kazanjian, Founder & Senior Strategist, The Next Next Group

Session II:

Training the “Stanley Kubrick” Level AI: Fact or Fantasy & the Question of Ethics

What would happen if an AI were trained with the entire oeuvre, the life work of Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, Stanley Kubrick, Billy Wilder and John Ford? That would be like sharing the “Keys to the Hollywood Kingdom,” the finest in cinematography, screenwriting, humor, drama and editing as well. And even with that “Assemblage of Greatness,” attached to an AI of tomorrow, meaning an AI with a near-Einstein level mind, would that “Advanced Machine” be able to create, even with professional “Human Assistance” a truly great achievement in Cinema? This question is not an idle bit of humor or fantasy. In a world racing toward “Advanced General Intelligence,” it is a question that we might have to one day address.

Dr. Megan Ma, Executive Director, Stanford Legal Innovation, Frontier Technology Lab (liftlab), Associate Director, CodeX, Stanford Law School, Moderator

Mark Goffman Writer/Producer, Netflix Series, The Umbrella Academy, Bull, Limitless, The West Wing

Ed Zobrist, Adjunct Professor, USC Cinematic Arts. former, Head of Publishing, Epic Games

Sharad Devarajan, Industry Visionary, Adjunct Professor, Media & Technology, Columbia Business School

9:00 PM – 9:50 PM: Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

The Cultural Tsunami: Creator Economy + Podcasts = A Media Realignment

Think about the average family prime-time living room scene. Mom and Dad settle in for their 8 PM favorite, Junior and Babs are texting and doom scrolling and before long, Mom breaks out her iPad and Dad does the same. We are all in a world of video creators and our favorite Pods, all the while texting our besties creating our own unique Emojis. Let’s face it, the old guard is being disrupted, and new voices, platforms and a whole new way of life has emerged. Of course, this is not the end of Networks and Studios as we know them, but it is a huge migration to devices from mobile to immersion. No question that it’s a “Cultural Tsunami,” and in this session, we will explore what it means and where we are going.

Speakers:

Ken Hertz, Senior Partner, Hertz Lichtenstein & Young LLP, Moderator

Speakers to be announced

Session II:

The Deepfake Dilemma: Protecting & Preserving Image, Voice & Likeness – The Taylor Swift Law & Scarlett Johansson Lawsuits

“Deep Fakes” are not only a theft of property rights and a concern of Musicians and Hollywood personalities, bad-actors are scheming new, inventive and technologically bizarre ways to invade our privacy, our computer data and ultimately our electronic wallets. This is not a false alarm. While a “Taylor Swift Law” is needed to protect the personage of a pop star or the “Voice & Audio Likeness of Scarlett Johansson, it may be even more important to secure the personal electronic rights of everyday citizens. Recently in Hong Kong, a “Deep Fake” scheme successfully defrauded an investment company of $25 Million in a fraudulent Zoom call with visual impersonators representing colleagues. That Zoom call might have been you and a “Deep Faked” family member.

Speakers:

Jenni Katzman, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Microsoft

Lisa Oratz, Senior Counsel, Perkins Coie

Remington Scott, Founder, CEO and Chief Architect, Hyperreal® Inc., VFX, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, SAG-AFTRA

Audrey Schomer, Media Analyst & Research Editor, VARIETY INTELLIGENCE PLATFORM, Moderator

The Evening Keynote Roundtables

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025

8:00 PM – 8:50 PM: Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

Investing in AI, Compute, Energy & Software: The Economy of the Future

Let’s first familiarize ourselves with the notion of “Compute” as a descriptor of the baseline of our future economy. “Compute” represents the fundamental infrastructure that underpins the AI-driven world, encompassing the complex interplay of hardware, software, and energy. So that a city, region, country or group of countries strategically develop their economies around the notion of “Compute,” that strategy will indicate the readiness of that “Entity” to provide services to it populations and in effect, compete within this vision of the modern world. We are entering a “Re-Defined World” of Davos, the EU and East vs. West. As we navigate this new landscape, investors, policymakers, and business leaders must prioritize strategic investments in “Compute” infrastructure, AI research, and workforce development to remain competitive and unlock the vast potential of the “Compute-driven” global economy.”

Speakers:

Paul Lekas, Senior Vice President, Global Public Policy, Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), Moderator

Michael Pachter, Managing Director, Equity Research, WEDBUSH SECURITIES

Evan Osheroff, Managing Director, Jefferies

David Higley, Partner, Global Media & Technology Group, Perella Weinberg.

Session II:

Is AI the Piracy Machine? As Brian May has Stated, “It’s Gonna Get Very Weird Very Quick”

“AI Music & Creativity” is breaking the sound barrier—no question about it. With AI tools, a universe of synthesizers, and unprecedented speed, musicians and composers can “create”—if that’s the word—musical complexity, from film scores to pop riffs, love songs to country ballads, in mere moments. The results? Lightning-fast production, often with stunning outcomes. But beneath this sonic revolution lies a dilemma: where does inspiration end and imitation begin? In this roundtable we will dive into the clash between AI’s expansive potential and the rights of human artists. Can machines truly create, or are they remixing the soul of music itself? Join us to explore the ethical tightrope of innovation versus ownership, as industry experts, musicians, and technologists debate the future of artistry in an AI-driven world. Creativity’s new frontier awaits—but at what cost?

Speakers:

David Hughes, Strategic Music Industry Consultant, former CTO, RIAA, VP Strategy, Sony Music, Moderator

Shara Senderoff, Co-Founder, Jen Music AI

Chris Horton, SVP Strategic Technology, Universal Music Group’s (UMG)

Eímear Noone, Award Winning, Composer, Conductor and Producer

Dr. Martin Clancy, Musician, Academic & founding Chair, IEEE Global AI ethics Arts Committee

9:00 PM – 9:50 PM: Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

AI & Human Intelligence – Conversational AI – The Human-Machine Relationship

What role will an AI play in our lives. It will help in our daily lives, as an advisor, a researcher, a mind to help stimulate our create process and even as a companion to share feelings and emotion. It might manifest as text, or as a visual on a screen, as “Her” on a smartphone or as a “Humanoid Robot,” but will it make the leap to full “Human Like” emotion, intuition, judgement and the full spectrum of human experience. It is not too early to ask these questions. What about the question of human need, affection and even love? A child expresses those feels from their earliest cognitive moments. Dogs and cats do as well. Accordingly, a “Highly Trained AI” will do all that and have an advanced mental capability too boot. No question, today’s ChatGPT can read and write and in this session, we’ll explore what else is on the horizon.

Speakers:

Cathy Hackl, CEO, Spatial Dynamics

Roch Nakajima, President, RKG Creative

Matthias Wittmann, Visual Effects Supervisor, Digital Domain (CGI, Benjamin Button)

Natalie Comins, Independent Creative Leader, Brand Experience & Design Innovation

John Canning, Director Developer Relations – Creators, AMD, Moderator

Session II:

Blockchain, Crypto & the Next Hollywood Economy: A “MetaVision” of Platforms , Studios & Networks

While Hollywood will always be the innovation engine, creating feature films, games, immersive content and now, leading the way in AI produced technology and content, next level “Hollywood Economy Strategies” will lead the way in the development and deployment of blockchain and Web3 applications. With a faster and fully integrated “Cloud-Based Economy,” “Multiplatform Apps” will not only secure the monetization of content globally, the Hollywood and advertising communities will lead the way in creating new direct to consumer trust relationships and innovative content and product categories. A few years ago, the “Metaverse” came into common usage, now we might be entering its successor, to be called, “The MetaVision.”

The AI Entertainment & Technology Summit

Monday, July 22 – Wednesday, July 24, 2024

A Virtual Event • Free to All Attendees • Registration Now Open

Click Here and View Online

The Complete Agenda July 2024 Agenda

The Keynotes: Monday, July 22nd – Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Special Track for: Television Academy Emerging Media Peer Group Members

I. Track One: AI and Hollywood Production, Advertising, Virtual Production & Analytics

II. Track Two: AI and Video and the 21st Century Artist

III. Track Three: Virtual Humans and Robotics: The Summit on Synthetic Intelligence

IV. Track Four: AI and Music: The Challenge of Artists vs. Technology – Musicians – Science – Creativity

V. Track Five: AI – Deep Fakes, Bias Threats, Bias, Creative Rights & Regulation

VI: Track Six: AI Fashion, The Artist & Design: The Summit on Synthetic Intelligence

The Defining Event: The Future of Entertainment, Media & Technology

The Evening Keynote Roundtables

Monday, July 22nd, 2024

8:00 PM – 8:50 PM: Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

The AI & Entertainment Innovation Roundtable

While AI has been front and center in the entertainment and media industries for more than a decade, enabling on the one hand predictive and qualitative analytics and then serving as the backbone of major creative innovation in feature film, advertising, and the cloud on the other. But now, with the establishment of “Generative AI,” that process of innovation and disruption is unfolding at an accelerated and unprecedented rate. In this roundtable, we bring together executives from major entertainment and technology organizations who are at the forefront of that innovation transformation. We thank them for their time and very much look forward to their commentary.

Speakers:

Phil Wiser, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Paramount Global

Samira Panah Bakhtiar, General Manager, Media & Entertainment, Games and Sports, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Eliot Sakhartov, Business and Technology Strategist, Media and Entertainment, Microsoft

Michael Kaplan, Global Business Development. Generative AI, Media and Entertainment (M&E), NVIDIA

Seth Hallen, President, Hollywood Professional Association (HPA), Moderator

Session II:

AI, Cinematic, Apple Vision Pro/Spatial and Media Artists: The Next Level of Creativity

The artist, the creator, from Indie filmmakers to experimental visionaries, in this moment of tech innovation, are finding a new voice and a new universe of opportunity. With traditional entertainment platforms, from “Tent-Pole Extravaganzas” to Reality TV overload, the global audience is making clear its preference for new mediums and new technologies that deliver new and more innovative experiences. In this roundtable we will explore AI and Cinematic creation, XR innovation and we’re also pleased to welcome the creative team behind Apple Vision Pro’s breakthrough “Encounter Dinosaurs.” As artists quickly discover, AI, XR and Spatial technologies provide pallets of creative choices unknown to them prior to this amazing journey.

Speakers:

Robert Legato, Director, Tool, Legendary VFX, Titanic, The Lion King, Avatar

Kymber Lim, CEO & Producer, MAJYK Studios, “Prehistoric Dinosaurs Immersive Team”

Ed Ulbrich, VFX Pioneer, Chief Content Officer, Metaphysic

Robert Keyghobad, Producer, Remy H. Industries, “Encounter Dinosaurs Team”

Keith Soljacich, Head of Innovation, Publicis Media

Eric Levin, Chief Content Officer, Publicis Media U.S, Moderator

9:00 PM – 9:50 PM – Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

AI and Safety: Governance and Restraint vs. Industry Self-Regulation

AI didn’t arrive in the past 18 months. For nearly twenty years, AI has steadily become a technological societal force, serving as a backbone to the Medical Imaging community, directing traffic on the internet and regulating electrical power grids across the country and making possible self-driving cars. However, with the arrival of Generative AI and the anticipation of AGI, Artificial General Intelligence, and massive surge in technology investment and company valuations, there is deep concern that the exuberance of discovery will lead to an unwelcome future. We welcome this conversation.

Speakers:

Richard Kerris, General Manager, Media and Entertainment, NVIDIA

Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, United States Science Envoy, Artificial Intelligence, CEO and co-Founder, Humane Intelligence

Mary Hamilton, Managing Director, Technology Innovation, Americas, Accenture

Dan Hendrycks, Director, Center for AI Safety

Dr. Megan Ma, Associate Director, CodeX and Law, Science, Technology Program, Stanford Law School, Moderator

9:00 PM – 9:50 PM – Eastern Time Zone

Session II:

The Hollywood Trajectory: The Generative AI Video Timeline: 2023 – 2024 – 2025 – 2026

How fast will AI take over Hollywood? That’s the question. After YouTube; After VFX and the Nightmare of Sequels, After Netflix, Amazon and cord cutting; Remember, Napster Killed the Music Industry!! What’s next? Is AI the Machine that’s going to “Eat Hollywood.” We are already beginning to understand the impact of AI on Screenwriting, AI and Virtual Charters and AI’s impact on VFX. Video Editing is clearly in the eye of the AI storm and the role of extras not to mention complicated backgrounds that will magically appear through the power of AI. In this session, we will speculate on the impact of AI on Hollywood and try to understand the impact and growth of “The AI Blob.” How soon will entire movies, TV shows and Ads being fully produced by a giant AI. 2026? 2028? What will Hollywood look like in 2030?

Speakers:

Paul Trillo, Artist, Writer, and Director

Andy Beach, CTO, Media & Entertainment Worldwide, Microsoft

Renard T. Jenkins, President, i2a2 LLC, President, SMPTE

Jen Hollingsworth, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Flawless AI

Phillip Fury, Immersive Technology Innovator and Advisor

Peter Csathy, Chairman, Creative Media, Moderator

The Evening Keynote Roundtables

Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024

8:00 PM – 8:50 PM – Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

Brands & Agencies as Global Studios: The Medium is the Message

The Medium is the Message has truly outpaced the growth and influence of our traditional media powers. While the “Super Bowl” was indeed the most watched TV event of the year, the everyday reach of “Social Networks,” plus YouTube channels and others in “absolute numbers” far outstrip our traditional media system. One might conclude that in determining consumer reach and engagement, the creative combination of Global Brands, Global Agencies powered across the Social Networks, Websites and Mobile enablers, with the added possibilities of AI, XR, AR and Live Events create what we might consider as deployable Global Studios. Such Global Studios might be “Ad Hoc” or transitory, but they represent a paradigm shift. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that the consumer reach of this “Modern Media Plan” will consistently reach into the hundreds of Millions.

Speakers:

Valerie Madden, Creative Director of Marketing Innovation, Amazon MGM Studios, Prime Video & NBC Universal Alum

Melissa Bolton-Klinger, Award Winning Director, former, Group Creative Director – Studios, Paramount

Adam Simon, SVP, Executive Director, IPG Media Labs

Shannon Pruitt, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Brand Performance Network (BxP)

Greg Kahn, President and CEO, GK Digital Ventures, Moderator

Session II:

AI and the Crisis of Creative Rights and Disinformation: Deep Fakes, Ethics and the Law

Even with the successful resolution of the Entertainment industry “Guilds” strike of 2023, there remains an ongoing fear that “artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to creative professions.” The core AI issue sparking debate in Hollywood is not only based on compensation and creative control production. Deep fake technology in particular has raised concern about potential harmful uses, such as political disinformation, revenge porn, and misuse of intellectual property. Concerns about disinformation are particularly high in an election year. At the same time, many “creatives” tout the game changing benefits this technology can bring to artistic and other endeavors, such as educational opportunities, enhanced freedom of expression and reduced barriers to entry. This panel will discuss these competing concerns and whether existing legal frameworks, such as right of publicity, copyright, and existing regulations, are sufficient to address this powerful technology.

Speakers:

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, SAG-AFTRA

Ellen L. Weintraub, Commissioner, Federal Election Commission

Ilke Demir, Sr. Staff Research Scientist, Intel Labs

Rob Rosenberg, former Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Showtime Networks

Lisa Oratz, Senior Counsel, Perkins Coie, Moderator

The Evening Keynote Roundtables

Wednesday, July 24th, 2024

8:00 PM – 8:50 PM – Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

A Meditation on Bad Hollywood: A Warning from the Creative Community – “Is the Future Synthetic Entertainment”

While the “Strikes” of 2023 may have been settled, with a well negotiated and robust consideration of all things AI, nevertheless, even with the AI guardrails in place, the feeling among creatives and for good reason, continues as the “unknown impact” of AI remains front and center in our industry and for the future of creativity and entertainment. Reflecting on this past year’s “Writers’ and SAG-AFTRA Strike,” Justine Bateman, was one among many in Hollywood expressing concern for our coming “Synthetic Entertainment Future.” To quote from her Newsweek article, Bateman was passionate and direct, “AI stands for Artificial Intelligence, but I refer to it as “Automatic Imitation.” And as Andy Weir, author of “The Martian,” has said, “before my life is over—my profession will effectively disappear.” In this session, we will continue the conversation concerning “All-Things AI,” the conversation that likely will never end.

Speakers:

Danielle Van Lier, former,Senior Assistant General Counsel, Contracts & Compliance, SAG-AFTRA, Moderator

Charlie Fink, Consultant, Forbes Columnist, “This Week in XR Podcast”

Marie Kelly, National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator, ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists)

Bryn Mooser, CEO, XTR

Caleb Ward, CEO/Artist, Curious Refuge

Chris Regina, Chief Content Officer, TCL North America

9 – 9:50 PM Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

AI-Powered Business Models for Media and Entertainment: Opportunities and Investment Strategies

The market caps of Hollywood studios and the “Magnificent Seven” (Alphabet/Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla) are a stark tale of two cities. In 1994, the economic power of Hollywood and Tech were more or less equal. Today, the big tech 7 are worth $11.6 trillion, while the seven largest studios clock in under $400 billion— 3.45% the market value of their counterparts. AI represents a chance for M&E to harness tech to add revenue stream, decrease costs and force multiply efficiencies. This panel will present some specific examples how A&I can supercharge M&E ROI and growth.

Speakers:

Guy Gadney, CEO, Charisma.ai

Marcie Jastrow, Advisor, Shiba Inu

Virl Hill, Digital Media Leader, Former, Development & Strategy, Media & Entertainment, Microsoft

Matt Edelman, President and Chief Commercial Officer, Super League

Dan Goman, CEO, Ateliere Creative Technologies

Seth Shapiro, Two-time Emmy winner, Partner, Alpha Transform Holdings, Moderator

The Complete Conference Agenda (The Daytime Events)

Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024

Noon – 12:50 PM – Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

Architects of AI and Entertainment: VFX/CGI – XR – AR – Film & Branding to Live Events

AI has been an evolving resource for Hollywood creatives for the past twenty years, going all the way back to “Jurassic Park” and “T2: Judgment Day.” You might call it a “Superpower.” AI in the hands of the “Architects of Hollywood” has been like giving a magic wand to a magician. From Feature Films, Live Experiences, Games and Advertising, the power to imagine has just been expanded exponentially. And an almost equal power has been given to the desktops of millions of the next generation of “Pixar and Walt Disney Imagineers” working at home worldwide.

Speakers:

Eric Shamlin, EVP Global Head of Entertainment, Media.Monks

Boo Wong, former, Director, Live Entertainment, Unity Technologies

Dave Clark, Award-Winning, Film Maker & Creative Director

Tyler Cohen, Creative Director, Experience, Tool

John Canning, Director Developer Relations – Creators, AMD, Moderator

Session II:

Session Hosted by SAG-AFTRA

The Clones Have Arrived! What You Need to Know

In the entertainment industry, technology should be the tool, not the star. In 2023, SAG-AFTRA and WGA battled AI in an historic dual-strike that resulted in groundbreaking protections. But the fight is far from over as Capitol Hill and state houses across the country grapple with what’s coming. What protections has SAG-AFTRA achieved in its collective bargaining agreements? What do existing state laws say? What is coming in the states? What is being proposed by the federal government?

Speakers:

Jessica Johnson, National Director of Entertainment Contracts, SAG-AFTRA

Douglas Mirell, Partner, Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP

Sue-Anne Morrow, National Director of Contract Strategic Initiatives & Podcasts, SAG-AFTRA

Dade Hayes, Business Editor, Deadline, Moderator

Session III:

Generative AI and Cinematic Hollywood: The Transformation of the Media Industry

While full AI video production hasn’t quite arrived, each week it seems that OpenAI debuts another generation of Sora and Pika one ups them with Audio software to lip-synch with the new video clips and another billion dollar investment is announced for a Virtual Humanoid company. And that was all in a three day stretch in March of 2024. And that’s not counting the Pro AI Music Generators from Google, Adobe and Meta and to paraphrase Stability AI’s CEO, “Emad Mostaque, “It has become possible to imagine an AI-generated new season of “Game of Thrones.” It with that thought in mind that we address the future of AI and Hollywood with our esteemed panel.

Speakers:

Ted Schilowitz, Visionary & Futurist, formerly Paramount Global & 20th Century Fox

Sasha Kasiuha, AI Innovator & Director, Madonna “The Celebration Tour”

Pinar Seyhan Demirdag, Co-Founder & CEO, Cuebric

Diana Williams, CEO & Co-founder, Kinetic Energy Entertainment

Leslie Shannon, Head of Ecosystem and Trend Scouting, Nokia, Moderator

1 PM – 1:50 PM – Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

As Johnny Rotten Might Say: AI Music – Bollocks Sí or Bollocks No?

Some say, AI is different. This technology may be black magic and maybe they’re right. But what about Sampling and Looping, Sequencers, Drum Machines and Beat Makers, Software synths and the Moog. How about the first time you became aware of the Wah Wah pedal? Does the music of Hendrix, Clapton or Zappa come to mind? The magical world of “Music and Technology” has enabled and enhanced the greatest of our popular musicians and producers for more than half a century. What is the role of the “Recorder Producer?” What about “The Wall of Sound?” What are the Beatles without George Martin, the master of “Audio Wizardry!” What would Johnny Rotten say about “Music and AI.” Let’s discuss.

Speakers:

Gerald Casale, Artist, Musician, founding Member, DEVO

Daniel Rowland, Music Producer, Head of Strategy, LANDR Audio

Jessica Powell, CEO, Audioshake

Dustin Blank, Head of Partnerships, ElevenLabs

Thomas Sachson, General Manager, Dropness LLC

Steve R. Masur, Partner, Raines Feldman Littrell LLP, Moderator

Session II:

Gen AI Cinema & Hollywood Video: A Director, Producer & Critic’s Roundtable

The entertainment industry has a new category of film to discuss and analyze, one that did not exist prior to 2023. It is almost remarkable that “Generative AI Cinema” is now a category of “Creativity” that we must begin to take seriously. All through the year 2022 AI Image Generators began to improve and in 2023 the images began to move. It would make Thomas Edison and Auguste and Louis Lumière proud. And the practitioners of “Gen AI Cinema,” the directors and technologists, today’s AI storytellers are creating amazing short films and video experiments. Our roundtable today will bring together a group of “Creatives” that are breaking the ground for what will surely be the “Hollywood of the 21^st Century.”

Speakers:

Quinn Halleck, Director, Tool (“Sigma_001”)

Katya Alexander, President, Pillars (AI Studio) & Freelance Indie Producer

Momo Wang, Animation & Creative Director, Illumination Entertainment

Jason Zada, founder, Secret Level

Max Einhorn, Gen AI Producer, Creator, “True Crime AI”, Moderator

Session III:

The High Profile AI Start-up – Searching for Unicorns

The names of the “High-Flying” AI Start-ups are now nearly as well-known as Google, Meta, Microsoft and Amazon. There’s OpenAI, Anthropic, Inflection AI, Cohere, Mistral AI, Hugging Face, Scale AI and Databricks to name a few. And all of these AI names are valued in the Billions. And that doesn’t count the fifty other companies whose AI products we are now all using and purchasing. What does this mean for the future of tech investments, the coming IPOs and tech valuations in general. Is AI leading a boom in the technology marketplace, the economy as a whole. How many will be busts? What do all these potential “Unicorns” mean?

Speakers:

Kirthiga Reddy, Co-founder & CEO, Virtualness, Moderator

Tara Tan, Managing Partner, Strange Ventures

Sharad Devarajan, Adjunct Professor, Media & Technology, Columbia Business School

David Higley, Partner, Global Media & Technology Group, Perella Weinberg

Bobby Napiltonia, Innovative Silicon Valley Exec., Okera, Salesforce, Twilio, BEA

Session IV:

The Complexity of AI & Art – Imagination of the Human + Machine: Cinematic Arts – Media Arts – Fashion Design

What does it mean when an artificial intelligence can dream? What does it mean to create art fabricated by neural networks rather than solely human hands and hearts. What does our future hold? Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, is a magnificent and devastating portrait of grandeur and privilege of Europe of the 1700s and in equal measure, we can look to the magnificent treasure of Antoni Gaudi’s architecture of Barcelona, and both might be thought of as progenitors of the AI Art we aspire to today. While Generative AI art is like opening a door to a limitless supply of “Digital Art,” this new world of art by “Human and Machine” will be no less distinct and intriguing than any era of art which has come before.

Speakers:

Angus Kneale, Chief Creative, Preymaker (co-founder, The Mill)

Michael Olaye, EVP, Managing Director, Hero Digital

Amelia Winger-Bearskin, Banks Family Chair of AI and the Arts, University of Florida, Digital Worlds Institute

Johannes Saam, Futurist/Creative Technologist, Framestore/atara.xyz

Annie Hanlon, Co-founder, Playbook PLBK, Moderator

2 PM – 2:50 PM – Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

The Digital Brand & Advertising Experience: AI + 3D + XR + Holography + Metaverse

The combination of visual and electronic platforms and digital creativity have completely transformed the role of global brands in public consciousness. Or perhaps it’s the other way around; global brands have exposed technology and creativity to the world. Either way, between AI, 3D, XR and Spatial Realities, a universe of magical experiences and creative environments are capturing the imagination of 100s of Millions of viewers on mobile, video as well as experiential platforms. We are reaching a next level; we may be breaking the “Creative Sound Barrier.”

Speakers:

Canaan Rubin, Immersive Content & Commerce Executive (Amazon; Prime Video; Jaunt; Iconic Engine)

Albert Thompson, Managing Director, Digital Innovation, Walton Isaacson

Jessica Berger, Senior Vice President, Innovation, Publicis Media

Fredrik Frizell, Founder, Buoy Studios

Clayton Weishaar, Creative Director, Wrld Space

Elizabeth Kiehner, Global Chief Growth Officer, Nortal, Moderator

Session II:

AI and Identity Theft – A Taylor Swift Law – The Deep Fake Dilemma

“Deep Fakes” are not only a theft of property rights and a concern of Musicians and Hollywood personalities, bad-actors are scheming new, inventive and technologically bizarre ways to invade our privacy, our computer data and ultimately our electronic wallets. This is not a false alarm. While a “Taylor Swift Law” is needed to protect the personage of a pop star, it may be even more important to secure the personal electronic rights of everyday citizens. Recently in Hong Kong, a “Deep Fake” scheme successfully defrauded an investment company of $25 Million in a fraudulent Zoom call with visual impersonators representing colleagues. That Zoom call might have been you and a “Deep Faked” family member.

Speakers:

Caroline Giegerich, Innovation Consultant, TEDx Speaker, Daily Marauder

Virginie Berger, Chief Business Development & Rights Officer, MatchTune

Remington Scott, Founder, CEO and Chief Architect, Hyperreal® Inc., VFX, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS

Greg Young, Vice President for Cybersecurity, Trend Micro

Will Kreth, CEO, HAND (Human & Digital), Moderator

Session III:

Cinematic AI: A World of Tools and Technology

The operative word is “Creativity!” While AI may provide amazing tools to enhance, expand, accelerate and even, to use a troublesome notion, to “Synthesize” the creative process, at its core, Cinematic AI is about “Storytelling,” and at least for the moment, the human touch is very much “At the Controls” of assembling an artistic cinematic vision. While the creation of some musical tasks and even individual images can approach human level creativity, for the moment, “Storytelling” is a bit more complex. In this session, we will hear from creators and technologists who are at the forefront in the application of “Cinematic AI Tools.”

Speakers:

Evo Heyning, CEO, Realitycraft

Emily Golden, Head of Growth Marketing, Runway

Vova Ovsiienko, Business Development Executive, Respeecher

Russell Palmer, CEO & Co-Founder of CyberFilm AI

Joanna Popper, Former Chief Metaverse Officer, CAA, Moderator

Session IV:

The AI Start-Up Dream Team: Strategies for Success: Unique Founders, PhDs, Genius Advisors, Venture Board

What are the difference makers. Where are the forks in the road, the decisive decisions taken by the ultimate winners and the 80% of start-ups who drift off and ultimately fade away. Facebook was not the first, but was by far the greatest of the Social Networks to enter the fray. Since all serious start-ups have brilliant and determined founders, wise and experienced advisors and investors, what separates that one shooting star from the group? Sometimes changing the world begins at a corner store serving a niche market in the community, like being a quality bookstore in a mall of Superstores or a seaside shack serving an upscale boating community and the opportunity reveals itself. But often, targeting a narrow domain, an underserved market, a foundational technology serving a unique need will provide the pathway to success.

Speakers:

Curt Doty, Founder, RealmIQ, Moderator

DMA Anderson, Founder and CEO, Korgi

Jeremy Toeman, Founder and CEO, AugX Labs

Mitchell Posada, Co-Founder, 3TGTM

Huipin Zhang, CEO & Founder, Visla, Zoom Founding Team

3 PM – 3:50 PM – Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

Hollywood VFX Pros Discuss Virtual Humans & GenAI: Feature Film Perfection, Actor Longevity, Deep Fakes, & Impact of Generative AI

How good is the current state of Generative AI? Let’s hear first-hand from an All-Star Team of Hollywood VFX professionals. Hollywood has been using AI in film and video production for any number of years, but now the “Next Generation of GenAI” has arrived and it’s all over YouTube and Social Media. There are Virtual Human Influencers, Models, even Virtual Girlfriends. And what do they see coming down the road, in 2025 and 2026? And how will Generative AI be merged with the most powerful software in the VFX toolbox? This roundtable should be fun.

Speakers:

Akira Thompson, Group Creative Director, Creative Technology at PXP Studios, Publicis Groupe

Candice Alger, Executive Producer and Member of Advisory Board, Wild Capture

Sean Cushing, co-founder, Cantina Creative

Remington Scott, Founder, CEO and Chief Architect, Hyperreal® Inc., VFX, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS

Lori H. Schwartz, Founder & CEO, StoryTech, Moderator

Session II:

The Digital Brand & Advertising Experience, Part II: AI + 3D + XR + Holography + Metaverse

The combination of visual and electronic platforms and digital creativity have completely transformed the role of global brands in public consciousness. Or perhaps it’s the other way around; global brands have exposed technology and creativity to the world. Either way, between AI, 3D, XR and Spatial Realities, a universe of magical experiences and creative environments are capturing the imagination of 100s of Millions of viewers on mobile, video as well as experiential platforms. We are reaching a next level; we may be breaking the “Creative Sound Barrier.”

Speakers:

Nigel Tierney, Executive Creative Director, Yahoo

Melissa Eccles, former, Head of West Coast, TikTok Creative Lab

Darlene Liebman, founder and CEO, Creative Humans

Elav Horwitz. EVP, Global Head of Applied Innovation, McCann Worldgroup

Nik Kleverov, Chief Creative Officer, Native Foreign

Mark Kapczynski, President, Storymill, Moderator

Session III:

Revolutionary Virtual Production: AI & Computer Vision in Modern Filmmaking

It’s almost impossible to exaggerate how much has changed in the past five or six years in the world of visual creativity and film production. What started out as an already impressive world of “Green Screens” and CGI has emerged as a universe of Gen AI video, prompted 3D images and full audio tracks, plus a vast war-chest of pre-visualization tools, all placed in the hands of our greatest storytellers. The industry is revolutionizing before our eyes. Filmmakers are transforming the ideation process, a world of AI and Virtual Production and in a matter of days, weeks and months, bringing it to life as a fully realized feature films, TV shows, advertisements and YouTube videos. In this session, we examine the phenomenon.

Speakers:

Joerg Bachmaier, CEO & Producer, Enter New Worlds, Moderator

Kathryn Brillhart, Cinematographer, Director, and Producer

Irad Eyal, CEO, Quickture

Tim Moore, CEO and Co-Founder, Vū Technologies

Eliot Mack, CEO, Lightcraft Technology

Jocelyn Wexler, Development Executive, Wild Sheep

Erik Barmack, Founder/CEO, Wild Sheep Content

Session IV:

Predictive Hollywood Analytics and Strategy: The Barbi vs. Oppenheimer Predictive Data Breakdown

William Goldman famously stated, “Nobody knows anything,” in describing the unpredictability and decision making in the film industry. Despite this assertion, a “Predictive Analytics” industry has emerged that underpins much of Hollywood decision making today. AI analytics are employed in script development, including character and thematic choices, deep dives into casting as well as audience preferences underpinning each option. While it is hard to say if the AI process was at the core of the massive success of “Barbi” or the award winning “Oppenheimer,” a breakdown of that development and production process would certainly make for an interesting discussion.

Speakers:

Tobias Queisser, Co-founder & CEO, Cinelytic

Kartik Hosanagar, CEO, Jumpcut, Co-Director, Wharton School AI & Analytics

Marc Karzen, CEO / Strategist, RelishMix, Moderator

Additional Speakers to be announced

4 PM – 4:40 PM – Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

The Best in Virtual Humans and Synths: Influencers, Performers & Companions

Call them Synths; call them Virtual Human Celebrities, influencers and performers going by names such as Audrey Hepburn Digital, Lil Miquela, Lu do Magalu, Barbi, Guggimon, Any Malu or Milla Sofia. According to her Instagram account, Lil Miquela is a half-Spanish, half-Brazilian 19 year old Robot living in LA with 2.6m followers. Lu do Magalu, another Brazilian influencer has 6.8M followers. She is used by Brazilian retailer, “Magazine Luiza” for various campaigns and has partnered with big brands, including Adidas, McDonald’s and Red Bull. There are AI Internet Girlfriend platforms named Replika, Candy AI and DreamGF and Virtual Singers and Performers are in the pipeline with the backing of major organizations. What are we to make of this phenomenon? “Barbi” afterall started out as a “Children’s Doll” over a half century ago and now as a “Movie Star” and “Virtual Human” has become a “Global Phenomenon.” With that in mind, perhaps the “Cultural Narrative” of “Synths” and “Virtual Humans as Celebrities” has yet to be decided.

Speakers:

Max Einhorn, Gen AI Producer, Creator, “True Crime AI”

Sally Slade, Lead XR Technical Artist, Genies

Sarah Parnicky, Innovation and Operations Director, Mawari

Eduardo Yeh, CEO, The Digital Audrey Hepburn Collection

Matthew Chavira, Business Development Manager, Hanson Robotics, “Sophia”

Isaac Bratzel, CEO, AvatarOS

Marc Scarpa, Co-Founder, DeFiance Media (Virtual Human News Anchors), Moderator

Session II:

AI Music Monetization: DeepMind’s Dreamtrack, The Grimes AI Strategy: Let’s Go 50-50%

There’s no way to slow down the explosion of AI created music. It’s here, it’s now and everyone, young and old have become AI Sound Engineers by the hundreds of thousands. So as the ocean of new music arrives, the idea of “AI Music & Monetization” has now become front and center. For example, Google’s DeepMind recently unveiled DreamTrack, an AI system allowing customizable music generation via text prompts. Their partnership with the music label EMI hints at future platforms streamlining rights-cleared AI music tailored to user taste. Such tools could enable independent musicians, creative agencies, and brands to license bespoke soundtracks on-demand. Along the same lines, the famous musician Grimes is exploring equally disruptive models, granting fans collective ownership in her AI-assisted compositions through NFTs and decentralization. It’s only the start, but with music AI software getting better and better, the market is ripe for legal monetization strategies to emerge.

Speakers:

Daouda Leonard, founder and CEO, CreateSafe

Anthony Ramirez, Partner, Technology Transactions Group, Morrison Foerster

Alex Mitchell, CEO, Boomy

Karen Allen, CEO & Co-Founder, Infinite Album

Joanna Popper, Former Chief Metaverse Officer, CAA, Moderator

Session III:

AI & the Creative Community – Representing the Interest of Actors – Writers – Producers – Guild Members

While the Hollywood strikes last year may now be old news, the concerns of the Guild membership, the writers and actors are far from settled. After all, creative concerns cannot always be resolved through arbitration and legal settlement. The underlying issues of Artificial Intelligence, from Deep Fakes, Virtual Humans and the ultimate ability of the AI to reason, think and author creative works is far from settled fact. Who among us can say what the future might hold. For those of you who have tried AI or perhaps have even become “Expert” in AI application, you are aware of the problems it may present. AI can as easily violate copyright of everything from image to story to voice as it can enhance the creativity of the most sophisticated artist. This our world to explore.

Speakers:

Chris McGuire, Comedy Showrunner: Martha & Snoop, The Soup, Comedy Central Roasts

Schuyler (Sky) M. Moore, Partner, Greenberg Glusker

Dan Neely, Co-Founder and CEO of Vermillio

Oz Krakowski, Chief Business Development Off