The changing landscape of Hollywood in the AI and anti-woke worlds

Two major trends are converging on Hollywood's horizon, in my opinion.

The Rise of AI
In recent years, AI has fundamentally transformed storytelling. Advanced language models now draw from the entirety of human literature and history to craft stories on demand, with scripts refined in days instead of months or years—significantly reducing costs.

More recently, audio and video have become the next frontiers for AI. Audio generation is progressing, with most sounds well-mastered, though nuanced speech with natural inflection remains a challenge. This progress further reduces costs by minimizing the need for sound composition and voice actors.

Video generation, though still in its early stages, is advancing quickly. Currently, lifelike visuals still struggle with details like eyes and hands, but within a year, we may see fully realistic, 8K-level video produced entirely by AI. Initially, this will impact the visual effects sector, yet the most profound changes may come from the gradual replacement of human actors. While producers, directors, and editors will still be essential, AI will increasingly handle much of the creative process.

Decline in Originality and Boldness
Hollywood today is constrained by a cautious, profit-driven culture. Original ideas are often sidelined due to high production costs and a pervasive fear of missing the mark financially or clashing with prevailing agendas. This lack of boldness isn’t due to a lack of creativity in the industry but rather to the influence of powerful financial interests that dictate which ideas move forward.

A Vision for the Future of Entertainment
In the next decade, we may see a shift toward highly personalized, on-demand entertainment. Viewers could simply describe a desired concept—be it a 30-minute ‘80s-inspired sitcom or a Hitchcock-esque thriller—and instantly receive content tailored to their preferences. This evolution promises to redefine how we consume entertainment, offering limitless creative potential without the current constraints of Hollywood’s traditional structure.

Hollywood will spend staggering amounts to resist this evolution. Of course -


When AI reaches 80% autonomy in content creation, profit margins will become compelling. Once scaled and with start-up and sunk costs covered, profitability will be readily achievable.