The Future of Entertainment With AI
When Eminem opened this year’s VMAs, the audience at home saw something surreal: a younger version of his alter ego Slim Shady standing alongside the real Eminem. Thanks to Tom Graham ’s company, Metaphysic.ai , this stunning moment wasn’t just nostalgia — it was groundbreaking AI.?
By layering a young Eminem’s face onto an onstage impersonator in real time, Metaphysic marked a new frontier in live television and opened doors to a future where film, TV, and live performances are reshaped by AI.
In his Pioneers of AI episode, Tom joins host Rana el Kaliouby, Ph.D. to explore this next evolution in entertainment. Metaphysic’s technology goes beyond bringing alter egos to life — it’s transforming Hollywood productions too. Metaphysic’s AI is being implemented in major blockbusters for remarkable uses like de-aging actors, turning a production-heavy process into seamless, real-time magic. This approach preserves actors' original performances and allows the cast and crew to instantly view the effect.
At the same time, this groundbreaking technology raises ethical questions which Rana and Tom discuss, like: Who owns AI-generated likenesses? How is consent navigated when AI can recreate people so precisely? In their conversation, Tom emphasizes that consent is foundational to Metaphysic’s work, highlighting the responsibility AI creators hold in shaping this technology.
To learn more from Tom and Rana, watch their full conversation:
Or, listen to it on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you get your podcasts.
AI A-Z?
This week’s AI term: Autoencoder
Autoencoder: A program that helps computers simplify and understand complex data, focusing on the most important parts so they can recreate it. It’s made up of layers that process information, like recognizing patterns in faces or sounds. Metaphysic, for example, uses autoencoders to study lots of images of someone, like Eminem, at different ages. The program learns what makes that person look unique, then uses this to build a digital version that can look younger or older.
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