Variety’s Entertainment and Technology Summit Will Highlight AI Impact

Variety’s Entertainment and Technology Summit on Sept. 26 is set to bring together industry leaders to discuss the impact of advancing technology on various sectors such as TV, film, gaming, music, digital media, and consumer brands. The one-day event, presented by City National Bank, will take place at The London West Hollywood.

One of the notable guests at the summit is Eli Collins, Google DeepMind Vice President of Product Management. Collins will be speaking on a panel titled “Generative AI – Succeeding With the Genie Out of the Bottle,” where he will delve into how breakthroughs like the Transformer have laid the foundation for the current Generative AI boom. This technology is revolutionizing industries by underpinning image, video, and other AI models that are reshaping the landscape.

Collins envisions a future where AI tools act as creative collaborators, allowing for personalized experiences in various forms of media. He discusses the potential for a film that adapts its tone and pacing based on the viewer’s mood, or a music playlist that evolves with the listener’s preferences throughout the day. The integration of AI into everyday creative processes opens up endless possibilities for storytelling and content creation.

Annie Luo, EVP of Global Partnerships and Strategic Development at Peacock, will be part of the “Perfecting the Business of Streaming” panel. She highlights Peacock’s innovative partnerships with companies like InstaCart and JetBlue and emphasizes the streamer’s foray into virtual reality collaborations with Meta. This partnership aims to bring iconic NBCUniversal IP to Meta’s Reality Labs surfaces, catering to a younger audience and driving innovation in content creation.

Former “Modern Family” star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, now host of “Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson,” will share insights on engaging with fans and promoting his podcast through social media at the “Podcast All-Stars” panel. By showcasing the connection with guests visually and through social media, Ferguson enhances the podcast experience for his audience.

Keynote speakers Channing Dungey from Warner Bros. TV and Peter Safran from DC Studios will provide valuable insights into the evolving entertainment landscape shaped by technological advancements. Other speakers like Pinterest CCO Malik Ducard and NBCUniversal president, scripted Lisa Katz will discuss new strategies for creating content that resonates with audiences in the “Entertainment Content Visionaries” panel.

The summit will also feature discussions on advancing financial operations in the media marketplace, entrepreneurship in entertainment, empowering digital creators and commerce, storytelling across platforms, game-changing deals, and building cultural bridges in the global streaming entertainment era. With a diverse lineup of industry leaders and experts, the summit promises to be a platform for exploring innovative ideas and strategies in the ever-changing entertainment industry.