Digital Hollywood: The AI Summer Summit

Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024

4– 4:50 PM Eastern Time Zone

Session I:

The Best in Virtual Humans and Synths: Influencers, Performers & Companions

Call them Synths; call them Virtual Human Celebrities, influencers and performers going by names such as Audrey Hepburn Digital, Lil Miquela, Lu do Magalu, Barbi, Guggimon, Any Malu or Milla Sofia. According to her Instagram account, Lil Miquela is a half-Spanish, half-Brazilian 19 year old Robot living in LA with 2.6m followers. Lu do Magalu, another Brazilian influencer has 6.8M followers. She is used by Brazilian retailer, “Magazine Luiza” for various campaigns and has partnered with big brands, including Adidas, McDonald's and Red Bull. There are AI Internet Girlfriend platforms named Replika, Candy AI and DreamGF and Virtual Singers and Performers are in the pipeline with the backing of major organizations. What are we to make of this phenomenon? “Barbi” afterall started out as a “Children’s Doll” over a half century ago and now as a “Movie Star” and “Virtual Human” has become a “Global Phenomenon.” With that in mind, perhaps the “Cultural Narrative” of “Synths” and “Virtual Humans as Celebrities” has yet to be decided.

Speakers:

Max Einhorn, Gen AI Producer, Creator, "True Crime AI"

Sally Slade, Lead XR Technical Artist, Genies

Isaac Bratzel, CEO, AvatarOS

Eduardo Yeh, CEO, The Digital Audrey Hepburn Collection

Sarah Parnicky, Innovation and Operations Director, Mawari

Matthew Chavira, Business Development Manager, Hanson Robotics, “Sophia"

Marc Scarpa, Co-Founder, DeFiance Media (Virtual Human News Anchors), Moderator

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    Sally Slade

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    Marc Scarpa

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    Matthew Chavira

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    Sarah Parnicky

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    Eduardo Yeh

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    Max Einhorn

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    Isaac Brazil

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Sally Slade is the Lead XR Technical Artist at Genies in Los Angeles. She is a veteran immersive developer, and has shipped Virtual Production, VTubing, VR, and Mixed Reality utilities and games to nearly every platform available since 2016. Sally began her career journey in VFX, working as a Technical Director for Academy Award winning studios Digital Domain and Scanline VFX. After nearly a decade of contribution and over 30 IMDB credits to her name, she made a pivot from film to games. Landing at Magnopus, she was personally nominated as Reality Mixer of the Year by Microsoft for her HoloLens utility, Muralize. She was then tapped to work as User Experience Lead on the groundbreaking Virtual Production system used by Disney’s The Lion King. After this experience she authored her own “virtual production for anime” software, later purchased by maverick start-up VOLTAKU, before finally arriving at Genies. Recognized as an "Inspiring Immersive Creator" by Forbes, Sally actively shares her expertise as a mentor, author, and public speaker, engaging with colleagues and students worldwide.


Isaac Brazil is the CEO and Founder of AvatarOS. Previously, he was VP of Design and Innovation at Dapper Labs, Chief Design and Innovation Officer at Brud where they created Miqueal, and Head of 3D at IPsoft where they created Amelia. Brazil has spent the last decade driving a wave of innovation in the digital human industry, building two of the most influential digital avatars of all time, millions of followers on social, brand activations reaching 155M+ in their first week, 9 million active users and over 1,000 integrations. He founded Avataros in November 2022, an avatar technology startup focused on creating human connection in the virtual world by scaling lifelike avatars across all platforms. But solving the technical challenges is only half the battle. Innovators and creators need access to information and a guide to the complex world of digital human avatars. So I'm committed to sharing inofmation in the form of blogs, behind the scenes content, tutorials and even courses and workshops intended to empower creators and brands to leverage the power of digital humans and virtual character-driven storytelling.


Eduardo Yeh, CEO, The Digital Audrey Hepburn Collection: YSY (Yu Sung Yeh) is one of the founding members of Digital Audrey, a collective art initiative dedicated to preserving and expanding Audrey Hepburn's timeless charm and legacy in the realm of Artificial Intelligence. Over a little more than a year, he has meticulously crafted over 650 original works of art and a collection of captivating images and animations, utilizing the innovative tools from the stable diffusion ecosystem. YSY's approach to AI art is characterized by its intricate detail and imaginative compositions, reflecting a deep engagement with the evolving technology of artificial intelligence, YSY's portfolio showcases a diverse range of digital artworks that delve into various themes and narratives, each piece offering a unique perspective shaped by AI's transformative capabilities. His creations, available for viewing on his Instagram profile at https://www.instagram.com/digital_audrey/ and on his website www.digitalaudrey.com, stand as a testament to his commitment to exploring the boundaries of AI-assisted creativity. As an artist deeply embedded in the AI art community, YSY's work is not just a display of artistic skill but a compelling exploration of the potential that lies at the intersection of art, iconic figures and artificial intelligence.


Marc Scarpa, an influential figure in media and technology, is renowned as a dynamic entrepreneur with a prolific career spanning over a thousand original TV and digital programs. His innovative endeavors have not only captivated billions of views but have also secured tens of millions in sponsorships and financing. As a creative visionary and prominent business leader in the media industry, Scarpa currently holds the position of founder and CEO at DeFiance.tv. This groundbreaking venture stands as the premier TV and digital network exclusively catering to news and entertainment for the new economy. DeFiance.tv offers a comprehensive media experience, accessible globally to an impressive 150 million households via Free Ad Support Streaming Television, across various platforms including desktops, mobile devices, and connected TVs. At the forefront of innovation, DeFiance.tv has revolutionized content creation by integrating AI video into unscripted content and news media. Notably, Scarpa's brainchild, Raxana, the world's first AI-powered digital twin news anchor, delivers breaking news every two hours in up to 45 languages on the global channel. Scarpa's illustrious career is punctuated by remarkable milestones, from orchestrating the Town Hall with President Clinton to shaping the digital landscape of X Factor USA and curating Grammy Live experiences. His influence extends to monumental events like Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day and League of Legends World Championships 2012, showcasing his versatility and expertise across diverse platforms and industries. With a knack for collaboration, Scarpa has worked with Grammy-winning artists, Oscar-winning directors, Fortune 50 brands, and even the White House. His responsibilities encompass various facets of content development and production, talent acquisition, technology partnerships, and budget management, reflecting his multidimensional skill set and leadership prowess. Scarpa's contributions have earned him esteemed recognition, including a Cannes Lion Award, two Teddy Awards, four Social TV Awards, a Webby Award, and the Producers Guild of America distinguished service award. He remains actively involved in prestigious institutions such as the National Press Club, Television Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the Recording Academy, further solidifying his commitment to excellence and impactful endeavors.


Max Einhorn is a pioneering strategist at the intersection of generative AI and entertainment, revolutionizing content creation in film, television, and the creator economy. As founder of consulting firm Dangerous Ideas, Max leverages his extensive background in media to drive innovation in AI-powered filmmaking and synthetic content creation. A trailblazer in generative AI applications, Max participated in "Our T2 Remake," the first feature film primarily produced using AI software. This groundbreaking project showcases his commitment to pushing the boundaries of AI in filmmaking. Max's expertise extends to developing advanced LLM prompting techniques for creating lifelike synthetic content creators, a technology poised to transform influencer marketing in entertainment. His brand "True Crime AI" on social media platforms demonstrates the potential of AI-generated content in engaging audiences. As the creator of the Cinema Synthetica Gen AI filmmaking competition at AI on the Lot, Max also prioritizes fostering a community of forward-thinking creatives reshaping the industry through generative AI. Max's background as former SVP of Acquisitions & Co-Productions at FilmRise, where he managed iconic properties and developed original content, informs his unique perspective on integrating AI into traditional media workflows. Now, as an advisor to Calliope Networks, he shapes strategies for licensing copyrighted content for AI model training, bridging the gap between traditional media and emerging technologies. Recognized in Media Play News' 40 Under 40, Max Einhorn continues to lead the charge in the AI revolution in entertainment, making him an invaluable resource for industry professionals navigating this transformative landscape.


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