AI's Influence on Media's Tomorrow Discussed at SMPTE's Bits By the Bay Conference
At the "Bits by the Bay" conference, held in memory of Peter Wharton, the evolution of frame rates and its implications for the film and TV industry were top discussions. Here's what went down:
Ditching Interlacing and Fractionals:In a presentation dedicated to fractional film frame rates, industry consultant James Snyder shed light on the past and future of frame rates. With streaming and gaming taking precedence, it's high time to round frame rates up, making them more relevant in today's media distribution ecosystem. Interlace and fractionals, according to Snyder, are just obtuse problems that need to be eliminated for a smoother workflow. The current US broadcast TV standard, specifically ATSC 1.0, is the main culprit keeping us from uniform frame rates, as ATSC 3.0 can accommodate even integer rates.
Democratization of Media—AI Style:John Footen, Deloitte managing director, talked about the democratization of media content over the past 40 years and how AI is shaping its future. Affordable mobile devices today can create professional content that once cost thousands. This trend isn't stopping anytime soon, as AI will soon allow anyone to produce Disney-level content. Moreover, AI "agents" could take over specific tasks, replacing the "app" environment of today. As these digital assistants become more attuned to individual preferences, brands that act as "walled gardens" may become obsolete, with content coming directly to users through their AI agents.
AI and Content Authentication:Matt Galek from Deloitte discussed the need for content authentication in today's AI climate. The Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) and Consortium for Content Policies and Authenticated Internet (C2PA) are projects aimed at combating disputed content by promoting transparency and authenticity in digital content. Although C2PA doesn't specifically focus on detecting AI-altered content, it assumes that a majority of content is now altered in some way. Adopting C2PA will help protect vital metadata that gets lost during content transfer and ensure a complete production chain.
Combating Deep Fakes:Ed Grogan, motion imagery researcher, emphasized the importance of spotting discrepancies in AI-altered media, as a falsified image could rapidly change public perception. Labeling content as potentially fake and retaining reference material will help maintain accuracy and credibility as media technology evolves.
In conclusion, as we transition to digital film and adopt new standards like ATSC 3.0, the need for rounding frame rates will diminish, and the media industry will undergo further democratization and digitalization.
- As streaming and gaming take priority, the evolution of frame rates, such as rounding them up, becomes increasingly relevant in today's media distribution ecosystem.
- At the "Bits by the Bay" conference, James Snyder, an industry consultant, discussed the past and future of frame rates, highlighting the need to eliminate interlace and fractionals for a smoother workflow.
- The US broadcast TV standard, ATSC 1.0, is impeding the shift towards uniform frame rates, but ATSC 3.0 can accommodate even integer rates.
- John Footen, Deloitte managing director, discussed the democratization of media content over the past 40 years and how AI is poised to further democratize content production.
- Affordable mobile devices today can create professional-quality content that once required thousands of dollars, and AI will soon enable anyone to produce Disney-level content.
- AI may soon automate specific tasks in content production, replacing the traditional app environment.
- As AI agents become more adept at catering to individual preferences, content could bypass brands that act as "walled gardens," being delivered directly to users.
- Matt Galek from Deloitte talked about the need for content authentication in today's AI era, emphasizing the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) and Consortium for Content Policies and Authenticated Internet (C2PA) as solutions to combat disputed content.
- Ed Grogan, a motion imagery researcher, stressed the importance of detecting discrepancies in AI-altered media, emphasizing the significance of labeling content as potentially fake and retaining reference materials to maintain accuracy and credibility in media technology advancements.
