Edward Saatchi, a co-founder of Oculus Story Studio, has experience in the challenges of introducing new technologies. Despite garnishing an Emmy for one of its animated productions, Oculus Story Studio was closed by Meta in 2017 due to insufficient public interest in VR movies. Currently, Saatchi is directing his efforts towards a generative AI platform called Showrunner, which has recently secured funding from Amazon.
Showrunner operates on a Discord server, allowing users to create customized short animated videos by choosing characters and art styles while writing prompts for dialogues and interactions. For example, users can create scenarios involving public figures like Elon Musk and Sam Altman in varying contexts. The generated clips are styled according to preset shows, and the voices are meant to mimic the personalities from which they are derived, although they can appear stiff and automated.
At present, the service is free, but plans are in place to introduce a subscription model ranging from $10 to $20 monthly. While Showrunner can only utilize its original programming at this stage, there is reported interest from larger studios, including Disney, to license their intellectual property for the platform.
Saatchi has been reflecting on past experiences with Oculus, acknowledging a prior overconfidence in VR. He observed that VR’s dual engagement modes left audiences unsure of their interaction level. His interest in generative AI was ignited during the development of a VR adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s book, where limitations became evident in character interactions.
Saatchi emphasizes the potential of creating immersive simulations for AI characters, arguing that they need a context to thrive. While AI’s impact on job markets is concerning, he envisions Showrunner as a means to enhance creativity rather than replace traditional roles. The platform seeks to encourage user-generated content, with future revenue-sharing possibilities for independent creators who license their work.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/762594/fable-showrunner-edwatch-saatchi-interview