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Reel AI: Erik Barmack’s biweekly article for The Ankler
Grok, Kling, Runway: AI Video’s Future Has Hollywood on the Outside Looking In
Erik Barmack’s Reel AI Column from The Ankler
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Grok, Kling, Runway: AI Video’s Future Has Hollywood on the Outside Looking In
Post-Sora, the space is fragmenting into separate ecosystems — and studios and streamers aren’t in any of them
UK Government Signals Stronger AI Copyright Enforcement Ahead
New guidance issued this week by the UK government highlights growing regulatory pressure that could influence how global studios approach generative tools
Meta Expands AI Video Tools Across Instagram and Facebook
New features introduced by Meta this week signal a broader push to integrate generative content directly into Instagram and Facebook
Why OpenAI Needs ‘TBPN.’ Badly
Sam Altman now knows the next AI arms race isn’t about tech — it’s about narrative
Music Labels Push for Stronger AI Training Controls in New Negotiations
Ongoing talks with tech platforms highlight growing pressure to define how copyrighted material is used in generative systems
TikTok Expands Generative Video Tools as Creator Ecosystem Evolves
New AI features are being tested across the TikTok platform, raising questions about how quickly synthetic content could scale globally
Paramount Tests AI Tools in Development as Cost Pressures Mount
Internal experiments at Paramount focus on script analysis and greenlight modeling, reflecting a broader shift toward data-assisted decision-making
How Sora Played Hollywood On Its Way to Dying
It turns out entertainment was too small for OpenAI. The bigger game is still coming.
Val Kilmer and Immortal IP Stars: Private Equity’s Next Play
Hollywood’s answer to the music catalog boom may be here
Cannes Programmers Debate AI Disclosure Ahead of 2026 Festival
Cannes Film Festival discussions reflect growing uncertainty over how to evaluate films that incorporate generative tools without clear industry standards
Runway’s Funding Round Signals Continued Demand for AI Video Tools
The company’s latest raise reflects growing enterprise interest as studios and creators test generative workflows beyond early experimentation
YouTube Tightens AI Likeness Rules as Creator Pressure Builds
New policy updates expand protections around synthetic voice and face replication, signaling a shift toward structured enforcement rather than reactive takedowns
Amazon MGM Tests AI Tools to Streamline Post-Production
Internal experimentation focuses on editing and VFX workflows as the studio looks to reduce timelines without altering creative output
Why Did Ben Affleck Start an AI Company in Secret?
Hollywood stars issue stern warnings while quietly building startups behind the tech
SAG-AFTRA Expands AI Protections Into Advertising and Voice Work
A recent update broadens the union’s focus beyond film and television, signaling where the next contract battles may emerge
OpenAI Moves Closer to Hollywood’s Gatekeepers
Early March conversations with agencies signal a shift from technology rollout to rights negotiations and talent representation
How Hollywood Choked Sora 2’s Rise
ByteDance’s AI reconnaissance strike and the four strategic choices now facing the studios before the next attack
SAG-AFTRA Tightens the Rules on AI Voice Replication
The union’s February guidance shows where the next labor fight is heading
Netflix Buys Ben Affleck’s AI Studio
Why the streamer’s February acquisition signals a shift in how movies may be made
How Hollywood Choked Sora 2’s Rise
The numbers don’t lie. And it turns out this industry still knows how to close ranks