This week on “The Ben & Marc Show”, a16z co-founders Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen take on the most hot-button issue in Hollywood: artificial intelligence. Over the past few months, the topic of AI technology has pushed the entire industry into unknown territory. Screenwriters fear they’ll no longer be needed, while actors believe they’ll be replaced altogether. But is it possible AI can actually level the playing field and create new opportunities for all artists?

In this two-part conversation based on YOUR questions from X (formerly Twitter), Marc and Ben examine the evolving business models of the film and television industries, as well as explore how writers, directors and actors can soon use AI technology to unleash their creative potential in ways they never thought possible. In fact, AI’s future in Hollywood may not be as dystopian as some of our favorite films have led us to believe.

We hope you enjoy this episode!

* Episode Note: This conversation was recorded in two parts. Part one took place before the WGA and AMPTP reached an agreement.

Listen to Us!
- Apple Podcast: https://bit.ly/3SdsfNt
- Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3SclPOr

Topics Covered:
00:00:01 - Part 1/ Show intro
00:02:31 - Streaming and the disruption of the entertainment business
00:08:12 - How internet based distribution changed music
00:10:31 - The concept of fungibility
00:16:05 - How creative is AI?
00:27:53 - The VCR causes panic
00:30:20 - How filmmakers will use AI in the future
00:35:58 - Human-created entertainment will be at a premium
00:40:19 - Marc's dystopian scenario for Hollywood
00:45:10 - Save the Cat!
00:54:24 - Part 2 / Show intro
00:55:03 - Marc's utopian scenario for Hollywood
00:59:11 - Fun fact about Star Wars
01:03:21 - Mad Men and using ChatGBT to circumvent writer's block
01:06:15 - How filmmakers and musicians will use AI
01:13:03 - The biggest argument for saving Hollywood
01:18:53 - Subversion of cultural norms through entertainment
01:22:01 - The economic principle of elasticity
01:28:10 - Royalties in the music industry
01:32:30 - Grimes and AI
01:41:40 - South Park and small budgets
01:47:31 - Deepfakes and misquotation
01:54:30 - Stuck Culture and Barbie
02:02:22 - AI and the Global Village
02:15:23 - Sign off

#ai #hollywood #film #tv #entertainment #technology #tech

Resources:
Marc on X:   / pmarca  
Marc’s Substack: https://pmarca.substack.com/

Ben on X:   / bhorowitz  

“Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need” by Blake Snyde: https://amzn.to/3EYsBj3

Films mentioned on this episode:
“Monsters of Man” (Amazon Prime): https://amzn.to/3tf7CWV
“Tenet” (Amazon Prime): https://amzn.to/46aI8bE
“Reservoir Dogs” (Netflix): https://bit.ly/48zbQbM
“Buy Bust” (Netflix): https://bit.ly/3LHcmuw [**Marc’s recommendation**]

TV Series mentioned on this episode:
“Fauda” (Netflix): https://bit.ly/3roB9wN
“Squid Game” (Netflix): https://bit.ly/3LGOreK
“Mad Men” (Amazon Prime): http://bit.ly/3LM2srB

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