Titans of Technology Pursue Copyright Exemption, Extending AI Cinematographic Capabilities
Fired Up and Uncensored: The Wild World of AI, Tech Giants, and Copyright
Welcome back to our weekly podcast, co-hosted by former Paramount futurist and Red Camera co-founder, and Rony Abovitz, the man behind Magic Leap, Mako Robotics, and Synthbee AI. This week, we've got Bob Cooney, the ultimate immersive tech guru and location-based entertainment expert. You can find us on Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.
Now, let's dive into some scorching hot topics that have been steaming up the creative industries lately.
Tech Titans Strike Back: AI, Copyright, and China
With Trump in the White House, the tech giants have been asked to chime in on a new AI policy, following the overturn of the weak one set by Biden through an executive order. The tech companies argue that using copyrighted content for AI modeling falls under fair use. They worry that restrictive copyright laws could leave them at a disadvantage—especially against the swift rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese open-source AI model. The fear? The race for AI would be over if American companies faced strict copyright laws while China dives headfirst into the deep end.
Roblox Dips Its Toes into the 3D Generator Pool
Roblox, constantly seeking ways to conquer the $180 billion gaming market, has introduced a 3D object generator powered by CUBE 3D, a 1.8 billion-parameter model. With this new tool, users can create 3D objects with simple text prompts, and future plans include generation from images. Roblox intends to use AI models for speech-to-text, text-to-speech, real-time translation, and generating entire interactive scenes on demand.
Russo Brothers and AI Take the Creative Wheel
Joe and Anthony Russo, famous for their acclaimed works, defend the use of AI in Hollywood for voice modulation. They argue that while AI isn't suitable for mission-critical work, it's a powerful tool for creative applications. The Russo brothers are also crafting AI tools for their studio, Agbo, aiming to empower artists and streamline the creative process in filmmaking.
Singapore's Creator Fear: AI Goes Rogue
Tony Gilroy, the genius behind the acclaimed series Andor, is keeping his 1,500-page script collection under lock and key due to concerns about AI misuse. Gilroy fears that making the scripts publicly available could allow AI systems to absorb and replicate his work without authorization—reflecting the growing discomfort among creators over AI's potential exploitation of intellectual property.
Stable Virtual Camera Sheds Light on the Future of 3D
Stability AI has introduced its AI model for turning 2D images into immersive 3D video scenes, known as Stable Virtual Camera. It can generate novel viewpoints, simulate camera movements like panning and zooming, and even handle up to 32 input images for sequences up to 1,000 frames. Despite its potential for film, gaming, and VR, it struggles with human figures and complex textures.
xAI Joins Forces with Hotshot: The AI Runway Expands
Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, has acquired Hotshot, a startup specializing in AI-powered video generation tools. Hotshot's models transform text prompts into dynamic videos, aligning with xAI's strategy to strengthen its generative AI capabilities. This dynamic duo aims to compete with powerhouses like OpenAI's Sora and Google's Veo 2.
SXSW 2025: Expanding the Frontier of Immersive Storytelling
The SXSW 2025 XR showcase pushed the boundaries of immersive storytelling, debuting award-winning VR, AR, and MR experiences. From emotional VR to massive dome projections, the event honored Chloé Lee for her open-world documentary, Reflections of a Little Red Dot, exploring Singapore's transition. The XR Experience Competition showcased 15 world premieres, with Proof As If Proof Were Needed created by Ting Tong Chang and Matt Adams receiving a Special Jury Award.
Soldiers Get a Realistic AI Workout With Omni Mission Trainer
The Omni Mission Trainer (OMT) from Virtuix is a mixed reality system featuring omni-directional treadmills that enable soldiers to physically navigate immersive 360-degree virtual environments. It supports team-based training simulations like mission rehearsals and active shooter responses while facilitating real-time performance analysis.
Vidu and Aura Productions Team Up for Sci-fi Anime Series
Singapore-based Vidu's generative video platform is collaborating with Los Angeles animation studio Aura Productions to produce a sci-fi anime series made entirely with AI tools. The series features Vidu's new "Multiple-Entity Consistency" feature, designed to maintain visual coherence across characters and environments.
The Austin AI Film Festival Heats Up the Lone Star State
The inaugural Austin AI Film Festival (AAIFF) concluded last week in Austin, Texas, showcasing narrative films across genres and awarding the Best AI Narrative honor to One Last Wish, directed by Edmond Yang.
AI Industry Report Shines a Light on the Dark Side of AI Storytelling
FBRC.ai, co-founded by Rachel Joy Victor and Todd Terrazas, has published its first quarterly AI Industry Report, detailing how 98 AI-native studios are reshaping production pipelines, redefining creative roles, and building new infrastructure for AI-driven storytelling.
AI Rewrite: A Cinematic Adventure
Nem Perez is bringing AI-generated imagery, 3D animation, and live action to life with an adaptation of 'Alice in Wonderland'. Using an "Exquisite Corpse" technique, 25 studios and artists will contribute their unique visions while maintaining narrative cohesion. The project is set to debut in 2025.
Runway's AI Film Festival Extends its Deadline to April 6
The submission deadline for the Runway's AI film festival has been extended to April 6, 2025. The event aims to recognize creators using AI tools across various genres.
(Enrichment) New Developments in AI, Copyright, and Creative Industries
With the rapid advancements in AI and its applications in creative industries, legal and ethical debates surrounding copyright, fair use, and intellectual property have intensified.
- Landmark US court rulings deny copyright protection for AI-generated works, emphasizing the requirement for human authorship in copyright law.
- Debates in the entertainment industry focus on balancing innovation with creative rights due to concerns over AI's potential exploitation of artistic creations without proper compensation.
- The UK government is evaluating changes to its copyright regime to address AI-related issues, including strengthening copyright requirements or introducing data mining exceptions.
- Other jurisdictions are grappling with similar challenges, and some offer platforms for rights holders to manage the use of their work in AI training.
As AI technologies continue to evolve, updated legal frameworks will be essential to address emerging challenges and opportunities while balancing rights and fostering innovation.
- In a groundbreaking move, Google and Meta could find themselves in a copyright lawsuit in 2025, with OpenAI leading the charge, claiming the use of copyrighted content for AI modeling by these tech giants falls under the realm of hyperbole, not fair use as they argue.
- TheAI Industry Report 2025Q1_square sheds light on the upcoming release of xAI's XR5, an advanced AI model expected to rival Google's DeepMind and Meta's Project Eunoia in the xAI industry, demonstrating the fierce competition within the AI sector.
- Conversely, the report also predicts the rise of Mako Robotics' MetaCrafter, an AI tool that enables content creators to seamlessly integrate their work into the metaverse, potentially revolutionizing the creative industries by 2025.
