Key Takeaways:
– AI benefits sizzle reel at SXSW prompts vocal protest from audience members
– A significant portion of the audience vocally objected, signalling discomfort with AI’s increasing role in the industry
– Entertainment industry figures warn against resisting AI adoption
– New AI tools such as OpenAI’s Sora potentially disruptive to current business models
Audience Members at SXSW Reject AI Proponents’ Message
At the ongoing SXSW festival in Austin, Texas, a sizzle reel highlighting the benefits of Artificial Intelligence (AI) received quite a chilly reception. A mix of clips from AI panels, premieres, and events, the audience resoundingly booed the reel before the premiere screenings of various movies.
Views from Key Note Speakers Met with Disdain
Key figures in the AI industry featured in the sizzle reel didn’t escape the audience’s disdain. Peter Deng, OpenAI’s Vice President of Consumer Product and Head of ChatCPT, received the brunt of the jeers following his assertion that AI makes us “more human.” Similarly, Sandy Carter, the author of The Tiger and the Rabbit: Harnessing the Power of AI and Blockchain for Business Success, elicited a negative reaction after advising businesses to stop resisting and learn to adapt to AI disruption.
Resentment towards AI in Entertainment Industry
This resentment towards AI-centric content is far from surprising. Over the past year, a significant number of writers and actors in the entertainment industry have been on strike. One of the major points of contention has been the growing influence and use of AI. A recent study revealed that 75% of respondents felt AI would result in the elimination, reduction, or consolidation of jobs within their companies. Additionally, the study predicts that nearly 204,000 positions will see negative impacts due to AI within the next three years.
AI’s Potential Disruption of Established Business Models
The rapid development and improvement of AI tools have made them increasingly powerful. OpenAI is set to launch Sora, a video creation tool capable of creating realistic and imaginative videos from text commands. The potential of such tools has led entertainment mogul Tyler Perry to pause his planned $800 million expansion of his studio. Perry stated that his decision was in direct response to the advancements he was observing in AI, and in particular, the capabilities of Sora.
Conclusion
As the debate surrounding the adoption and integration of AI technologies intensifies, the increasingly vocal backlash points to rising concerns. Whether these concerns will slow the pace of AI adoption in various industries remains to be seen. SXSW’s recent AI-centric sizzle reel and its subsequent reception by the festival-goers has underscored the existing tension regarding AI’s growing dominance in industries, particularly in entertainment. Despite the calls from industry figures to embrace AI, it seems that the audience, at least for now, remains unconvinced.
While the potential of AI and its tools may be incontestable, the contention lies in its perceived threat to existing jobs and business paradigms. As the industry adapts to the rapidly changing technological landscape, the reactions at SXSW serve as a stark reminder that AI, while touted as the future, remains a contentious topic for many.
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