Just wrapped an incredible evening at the Creative Media & Generative AI panel in Seattle
My pre-event excitement was completely validated – this lineup delivered exactly the kind of forward-thinking conversation our industry needs right now.
Key insights that stood out:
- The authenticity paradox: Dave Siegfried from Official AI shared how they’re solving consent and likeness protection – moving from reactive takedowns to proactive creator empowerment. The shift from “get off my lawn” to curiosity among talent during the SAG-AFTRA strike was fascinating.
- Beyond generation: Mark Buckler, PhD (Sample Planet, formerly Soundry) highlighted that AI in creative isn’t just about generation – it’s infrastructure, sound separation, and workflow integration. The rebrand away from “AI” speaks volumes about industry perceptions.
- Real engagement: Patrick Ellis (Snapbar) showed how people are literally lining up at events for AI-powered photo experiences. When brands can create immersive, in-person, personalized content at scale, the engagement numbers are undeniable.
- Investment perspective: Rolanda Fu from Madrona emphasized that differentiation now comes from unique datasets and distribution, not just access to the same public models everyone else uses. Also, Intangible AI is revolutionizing 3D creative tools (looks really cool!)
The recurring theme? AI as amplification, not replacement. These tools are freeing creatives to focus on vision, strategy, and authentic storytelling while handling production heavy lifting.
Huge thanks to Boaz Ashkenazy and the Applied AI Association (AAIA) Seattle Chapter for hosting, and to Baker Tilly for making it happen at the beautiful Foundations space. The MOTO Pizza 🤌🔥
The future of creativity is human-driven and AI-amplified.