Since AI tools went mainstream, filmmakers, writers, and actors have been scrambling to figure out whether these technologies can truly assist their creativity or if they might end up replacing humans. But there’s a larger concern to address before we get swept away by debate: AI can’t run without enormous data centers and energy infrastructure.
A new joint venture, dubbed Utopai East, aims to address that need by developing infrastructure specifically for producing movies and TV shows using AI. The joint venture is held 50-50 by investment firm Stock Farm Road (SFR) and AI film and television production company Utopai Studios.
SFR, co-founded by Brian Koo (the grandson of LG Group’s founder Koo In-hwoi) and Amin Badr-El-Din, the founder and chief executive of BADR Investments, is contributing capital to the joint venture, along with creative expertise and industry contacts. Utopai, meanwhile, is providing the technology, workflow and infrastructure.
The project will also involve co-producing film and television projects, and expanding access to Korean intellectual property for international audiences. Production will begin using existing infrastructure, and the company expects the first piece of content from this collaboration to be released next year, according to Ceilica Shen, co-founder and CEO of Utopai Studios.
In the short term, using AI is going to be primarily about lowering costs and increasing efficiency, Koo told TechCrunch.
“But beyond that, we’re very excited about the new possibilities AI opens up. As we engage with creators, we’re exploring what entirely new things can become possible. Right now, some of our early focus is on creators in Korea,” Koo said. “Just as short-form content was a novelty when it first emerged, we see opportunities for fresh approaches. We’re working not only with established directors in cinema but also with young, innovative creators who aren’t limited to traditional movies.”
Cecilia Shen …