The AI creative economy is missing something critical: a shared unit of value like keyword search was for the internet. This episode explores why owning infrastructure won't guarantee profits, how creative value is shifting from packaged content to continuous performance, and what economic primitives will enable creators, brands, and platforms to negotiate sustainably. Drawing parallels from the dotcom era, the Roland 808, and sports fandom, we make the case that the future belongs to those who build cultural scenes, not just content.

What if future beings looked back at humanity like we study ancient civilizations? Artist Vanessa Rosa bridges desert ceramics and AI to create Little Martians—an interactive universe of organic seed-beings carrying Earth's knowledge to new worlds. We explore off-grid creativity at Mars College, the tension between handcraft and automation, and how AI democratizes world building for independent creators.

How do you unite a fragmented AI creative industry and bring it into the mainstream? Matty Shimura, Creator Competitions Lead at ElevenLabs and Partnerships, Strategy and Operations Lead at the Chroma Awards, shares his journey from filmmaker to competition organizer. We explore how large-scale creative competitions can bridge the gap between AI tool makers and artists. Learn about the judging process, building fan culture, and why "green lighting yourself" matters more than ever in the age of AI creativity.

Culture & Code speaks with Asa Bailey, founder of Bailey Creative Group and the architect behind the Digital Acquisition Verification Engine (DAVE). Specially designed for filmmakers bringing AI into their workflows, the DAVE system automatically tracks creative human inputs and AI inputs side by side, documenting provenance and providing an audit trail filmmakers need to turn creative ideas and performances into protected, monetizable IP. From live-action shoots to AI-generated scenes, Bailey shows how to use technology to lock in authorship and ownership in real time. We cover virtual production workflows, copyright life before and after Gen AI, plus the shift toward entertainment properties built as living, expandable worlds more than discrete titles or volumes. Essential listening for creators and technologists shaping the future of storytelling and intellectual property.

In August 2023, Culture & Code launched with a manifesto declaring AI as a new creative medium. Two years later, we examine what predictions came true and what surprised us. Drawing parallels between AI creativity and the underground music scenes that birthed hip-hop and electronic music, we explore why AI storytelling feels like punk rock—raw, accessible, hated by establishments, and unstoppable. We dive into the concept of "creative democracy," the hard truth that democratizing creation doesn't guarantee audiences, and why the real scarcity in AI media is taste, trust, and community. Plus insights on building creative scenes through the Seattle AI Film Festival and practical advice for creators and organizations navigating this technological shift.

How do you protect creative work when AI can perfectly replicate your artistic style? IP attorney Adam Philipp, founder of Aeon Law, reveals the legal blind spots emerging as AI reshapes creativity. This deep dive covers real cases like Anthropic's controversial book scanning, why Getty Images sued over AI-generated watermarks, and the Studio Ghibli avatar phenomenon that highlighted style protection gaps. Philipp introduces his concept of "derived style" as a new form of intellectual property and provides actionable advice for creators navigating this uncertain landscape. From copyright registration requirements for AI-assisted works to documentation best practices, this episode equips creators, entrepreneurs, and AI developers with frameworks for thinking about creative rights in 2025. Essential listening for anyone creating with—or competing against—AI tools.

Exploring the intersection of AI and creative storytelling with Jagger Waters of Escape.ai. From theater to AI filmmaking, we discuss how technology is democratizing creativity, the evolution of immersive experiences, and what the future holds for creators navigating between analog and digital worlds.

Dive deep into the world of professional creative AI with Griptape.ai CEO Kyle Roche and Creative Director Amaru Zeas Sigüenza. This episode explores the critical difference between consumer AI prompting and professional creative workflows that use 10-20+ models for artistic control. Learn about node-based workflow orchestration, IP security challenges, and how AI is democratizing creativity while creating new collaboration models. From managing evolving technology to onboarding traditional artists, discover the practical realities of scaling creative AI workflows from solo projects to studio pipelines. Whether you're a creator, technologist, or business leader, this conversation reveals the infrastructure behind tomorrow's creative industries.

A deep dive into the evolution of filmmaking technology and creative independence. From the Matrix trilogy's groundbreaking visual effects to today's AI-powered content creation, this episode traces how virtual cinematography, game engines, and generative AI are democratizing high-quality storytelling. Discover how creators are breaking free from traditional gatekeepers and what "Neo Cinema" means for the future of entertainment across all formats and platforms.

Emmy-nominated filmmaker Nick Kleverov discusses how AI tools are revolutionizing visual storytelling. From creating viral brand campaigns to developing feature films, Nick shares insights on working with major brands like Toys"R"Us and Virgin Voyages using cutting-edge AI technology. Learn about the creative process behind groundbreaking projects, the challenges of iteration and consistency, and practical advice for both newcomers and established professionals looking to integrate AI into their creative workflows.

Most creators see AI as a better tool—faster, cheaper, more efficient. But what if that's exactly backwards? This week's deep dive explores why the most successful AI creators won't be those who master the technology, but those who understand something far more elusive: their audience.

What if we've been thinking about AI all wrong? This episode challenges the prevailing mental models that frame Generative AI as merely a tool or assistant, proposing instead that AI functions more like a creative instrument—specifically, a drum machine. Drawing parallels to the Roland TR-808's journey from critical disappointment to cultural revolution, we explore how underground adoption of "imperfect" technology can reshape entire creative landscapes. From New York's block parties to Detroit's techno scene, the 808 didn't succeed by sounding like real drums—it created its own aesthetic identity. Similarly, today's AI creators are finding power in embracing artificial qualities rather than hiding them. We examine how this shift impacts creative judgment, audience participation, scene formation, and the fundamental nature of artistic authenticity in an age of algorithmic creativity.

In this episode of Culture and Code, we sit down with Colin Petrie-Norris, founder and CEO of Fairground Entertainment, a new AI-powered studio and streaming platform backed by $4 million in seed funding. Colin previously founded Xumo, one of the most successful platforms in the free ad-supported television (FAST) space before selling to Comcast in 2020. We explore the evolution from FAST TV to AI storytelling, examining how distribution strategies, advertising models, and creator empowerment translate to this new frontier. Colin discusses why 2024-2025 represents the optimal timing for AI entertainment, the importance of maintaining storytelling quality alongside visual innovation, and how Fairground plans to build a global creator community. From public domain characters like Dracula and Robin Hood to innovative advertising integration, discover what it takes to build sustainable ecosystems where AI-assisted creators can thrive professionally.

What happens when artificial intelligence and robotics make traditional work obsolete? This episode introduces the "Abundanism" framework - a comprehensive model for transitioning from scarcity-based civilization to post-scarcity society. Drawing lessons from evolutionary biology, economic history, and cutting-edge AI development, we explore how humanity can prepare for a world where basic needs are universally met. The conversation covers the psychological shift required to move from competition to collaboration, the role of Universal Basic Income in enabling creativity, and why the current AI arms race between major powers threatens our one opportunity to get this transition right. Special focus on how creative professionals and technologists can lead this transformation through storytelling and responsible development. A thought-provoking discussion about redefining human purpose, avoiding technological displacement chaos, and building institutions for shared flourishing rather than concentrated power.

Join us for a fascinating conversation from the Seattle AI Film Festival with Debra Aho Williamson of Sonata Insights and Adrienne Lahens, former TikTok executive. Discover how AI filmmakers are achieving Hollywood-quality production with tiny teams, why brands need to think "scale not replacement," and how we're entering the "Imagination Age" where creativity becomes democratized globally. Learn from real case studies, including why Coca-Cola's AI campaign failed and how African storytellers are breaking into cinema. Essential listening for marketers, creators, and anyone interested in AI's creative revolution.

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Lisa Russell, Emmy-winning filmmaker and founder of ArtsEnvoy.AI, who's revolutionizing how stories get told in our AI-powered world. Russell shares her journey from self-taught editor to pioneering AI filmmaker, including her collaboration with Nigerian artist AkayCentric on the climate advocacy music video "Moving On." We explore how AI tools are democratizing creativity across the Global South, breaking down barriers that have historically limited access to professional filmmaking. Russell discusses her work bringing artists into UN policy spaces, building training platforms across Africa, and her vision for AI that's trained on emotional stories and cultural narratives—not just technical data. This episode reveals how creative technology is becoming the great equalizer for marginalized voices worldwide.

What happens when Oscar-winning visual effects meet cutting-edge AI? Dive into the Creative Control Hackathon where filmmakers are wrestling control back from AI black boxes. Discover how the next generation of media production tools are being built to serve directors, not replace them. From camera movements that actually make sense to characters that stay consistent across scenes, explore the technical challenges that will determine whether AI becomes Hollywood's greatest tool or its biggest creative obstacle.

Our latest episode features a fascinating conversation with a 37-year industry veteran Renard Jenkins,who's been at the forefront of Hollywood's technological evolution. From running post-production at major studios to founding a cutting-edge AI consultancy, this week's guest offers unique insights into how artificial intelligence is reshaping entertainment.

Discover how a musician who built million-dollar marketing businesses is now leveraging AI to revolutionize his creative work, opening doors for him to explore graphic design, space travel and theater. John Oszajca shares how he evolved from promoting shows by phone to mastering digital marketing—and now AI. Learn practical strategies for building audiences, the mindset shifts needed for AI adoption, and why the fundamentals of marketing remain unchanged even as the tools evolve. Whether you're a musician, creative entrepreneur, or curious about AI's creative potential, this conversation offers actionable insights on thriving in the intersection of art and technology.

Explore the intersection of AI and filmmaking with Aaron Sanchez, Executive Director of the Austin AI Film Festival. This episode delves into how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing storytelling by dramatically reducing production costs while creating new opportunities for independent filmmakers. Discover how AI tools are democratizing creative expression and learn about Austin's unique position at the crossroads of technology and art. Perfect for filmmakers, technologists, and anyone curious about the future of digital storytelling.