‘We Must Now Lead’ Warns TV Academy Governor Eric Shamlin at AI Summit

variety.com:

Carolyn Giardina Eric Shamlin, Television Academy governor and chair of its AI Task Force, urged members to take on an advocacy role in developing AI policies and frameworks, during a keynote at Saturday’s TV Academy AI Summit. “We must now lead,” he asserted. “We can’t afford to sit back and wait for others to shape how AI is implemented into our industry.” Added Shamlin, who is also CEO of AI-driven entertainment studio Secret Level, “This means advocating for responsible AI policies, collaborating with guilds, unions and studios, ensuring our members aren’t left behind in the transition, and pushing for ethical AI use that empowers creatives, not just corporations.” The half-day program was presented to a full house at the TV Academy’s Saban Media Center Wolf Theatre.

Summit topics including legal issues, impact on jobs, and new tools, as well as use cases. Addressing the thorny topic of job retention, several speakers opined that some jobs will go away or change while new ones will emerge, but that AI still requires creatives.

Ed Elbrich, a Digital Domain alum who is now chief content officer and president of production at Metaphysic.ai, remembered a day on the set of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” when director David Fincher joked, “someday, we’re going to be making CG people on a laptop in real time.” Ulbrich asserted that that time is here, but creatives are still needed. “These powerful tool in the hands of great artists is yielding amazing things,” he said, adding that all roles from actors to cinematographers are “highly relevant in optimizing AI.” Ulbrich advocated for pros to learn AI. “Your skills are valuable,” he said, while reminding young people, “learn filmmaking, learn how to tell stories.