🎥Lights, Camera...AI?

👋 Welcome! Today, we’re covering a range of topics from Netflix finally embracing gen-AI to exploring film production is becoming more accustomed to today’s technology. Get ready for a full spectrum of insights that will keep you informed and engaged!

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Netflix uses AI in its original show – Netflix has used generative AI for the first time in one of its original shows — Argentina’s sci‑fi thriller The Eternaut — to create a building‑collapse sequence in Buenos Aires. The VFX shot was produced ten times faster and far cheaper than traditional methods, opening new creative and budgetary possibilities.

Think twice before saying ‘yes‘ – AI tools—from browsers to meeting‑summary assistants—are increasingly requesting access to deeply personal data like email, contacts, calendars, photos, passwords and credit card info. Experts warn this grants both data and autonomous control to potentially untrustworthy providers. The risk often outweighs the convenience.

Elon Musk to unveil AI chatbot for kids – Elon Musk’s xAI hinted a launch of “Baby Grok,” a simplified, kid‑focused version of its Grok chatbot, designed for safe, educational conversations and equipped with parental controls and strict content filtering. The announcement follows recent controversies, including Grok’s antisemitic outputs and risqué upgraded companions.

Coldplay Kiss Cam sparks CEO resignation – Tech‑company CEO Andy Byron has resigned after footage of him cuddling his HR head, Kristin Cabot, on Coldplay’s “kiss cam” at Gillette Stadium went viral. Astronomer’s board placed both on leave, launched an investigation, and appointed Pete DeJoy interim CEO. The incident has became viral with memes all over social media.

Google poaches Windsurf team – Google struck a $2.4 billion licensing-and-talent deal with AI‑coding startup Windsurf, hiring its CEO Varun Mohan, co‑founder Douglas Chen and key R&D staff—upending a planned $3 billion acquisition by OpenAI. The move signals a new trend: tech giants using licensing to secure top AI startup teams.

AI’s hidden hand in layoffs – Despite official statements that tech-driven job cuts stem from restructuring or economic shifts, analysts warn AI likely plays a much bigger role. Entry-level and knowledge‑work roles are most vulnerable. Experts say companies are underreporting AI’s impact to sidestep backlash—raising concerns about transparency in workforce changes.

Russia and North Korea economic ties deepen – North Korea and Russia have strengthened economic ties a year after leaders met in Pyongyang. North Korean apples, sausages and even workers are entering Russia. Infrastructure projects include a $100 M road bridge and revitalised rail links. The deal involves ammunition, troops and cash, boosting Russia’s war effort and enhancing both countries’ leverage.

Atlanta's Population Boom Comes to a Halt – Atlanta’s decades‑long streak of domestic population growth has halted: from mid‑2023 to mid‑2024, roughly 1,330 more U.S. residents left the metro than arrived—its first such decline in over 30 years. Rising housing costs, congestion, and job softness are driving former residents to smaller Southern cities.

EU preps for retaliatory tariffs against US – The EU is preparing a package of retaliatory measures as U.S. negotiating stances harden ahead of an August 1 deadline, including pitched talks in Washington and the threat of near‑universal tariffs above 10% on EU goods with limited exemptions.

BrightAI to scale ‘Physical AI’ Platform – BrightAI has secured a $51M Series A led by Khosla Ventures and Inspired Capital to scale its "Physical AI" platform, Stateful, which uses drones, sensors, and AI to monitor and autonomously inspect critical infrastructure. The startup has passed $100 million in revenue, deployed over 250,000 AI endpoints across 50,000+ sites, and plans to expand headcount and open a San Francisco HQ.

Occupi to disrupt affordable housing fintech – Occupi, an Alabama-based fintech startup, has closed an oversubscribed seed round, raising $3.1M seed round. Co-led by Fenway Summer and Assurant Ventures, the funds will scale its payment and screening platform across affordable student housing markets.

AI tools are increasingly integrated across film production workflows, enhancing creativity and cutting costs—but not without controversy.

New AI-driven platforms like Google’s Veo3 and OpenAI’s Sora power full short films like Midnight Drop and Spiders in the Sky, enabling rapid production of cinematic visuals. Directors hail their speed and polish, but the pace of change is unsettling traditional production teams.

Major content producers are adopting similar tools: Netflix used generative AI to create complex visual‑effects scenes—like a collapsing Buenos Aires building—“ten times faster” and more affordably than conventional methods . While this accelerates creative possibilities, it has also sparked concerns over VFX crew displacement and prompted new guild guidelines for ethical use.

Smaller studios are embracing AI ethically. Moonvalley, backed by an $84 million funding round, launched Marey, a tool trained exclusively on licensed content to ensure transparency and respect creators’ rights . Their model aims to improve production while preserving creative ownership.

But backlash is growing. When Eros reshaped a film’s ending using AI without creative consent, it triggered protests over unauthorized manipulation of actors’ performances . This incident underscores broader fears about undermining moral rights, credit, and original vision.

Industry veterans offer sobering context. One prominent director has avoided using AI on-camera, expressing concern that it risks replacing human artistry and displacing entire careers . Academic analysis suggests that while AI can support auteurs, it should remain an “embodiment tool” under human oversight—not a substitute for artistic agency .

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