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The 2025 National Association of Broadcasters Show wrapped last week in Las Vegas, following a busy convention that attracted an estimated 55,000 delegates from the media and entertainment industries. While attendance remains far below pre-pandemic levels – the 2019 edition reported 90,000 attendees – it’s clear that AI is steering an industry in transition, fueling the rapid pace of technology change and growth of the creator economy. In fact, Nab reported that more than half of attendees (53%) were first-time show goers while 26% came from outside the U.S.

“This is the age of the generalist,” suggested Eric Shamlin, CEO of AI-driven production studio Secret Level and co-chair of the TV Academy’s AI Task Force, during one panel that addressed how AI is currently in use. “The other thing we are seeing is it’s putting a spotlight back on the creative vision. … People can now create space operas in their bedroom. I think we...

The Variety & Adobe The Future of AI Filmmaking panel at the Sundance Film Festival featured a conversation by film executives about how AI is currently being used in entertainment as well as how it will shape the industry going forward.

The panel, moderated by Variety’s executive editor Brent Lang, featured Meagan Keane, director of product marketing at Adobe Pro Video, Dave Clark, The Promise co-founder and chief creative officer, writer and director Paul Trillo, who is also a partner at Asteria, Jason Zada, founder of Secret Level, and Angela Russo-Otstot, Agbo chief creative officer.

Keane explained the two different types of AI that make up this industry conversation: assistive AI and generative AI. The company is considering how AI can expedite filmmakers’ and artists’ workflow. “At Adobe, we’re still thinking about generative in ways of like, how do we remove pain points? How do we help sort of...

Read More: SNL's 5 Best Digital Shorts, er, Pre-Recorded Sketches of the Season The digital short has become an integral "Saturday Night Live" centerpiece over the past decade thanks to poster child Andy Samberg, but what would such viral hits like "Housewives of Disney," "The Beygency" and "Wes Anderson Horror" be without editor Adam Epstein? You probably don't know his name or his face, but Epstein's post-production work for the NBC sketch comedy show has provided audiences with one viral sensation after the next. As part of the Nab Creative Masters Series, Epstein joined Meagan Keane, senior marketing manager at Adobe, for a lengthy discussion about his comedy roots and the "drug rush" that comes with editing for "SNL" digital shorts. Given how the shorts start production on Mondays and don't get delivered to air until around 10 minutes before broadcast, somehow the "drug rush" comparison seems...