The Impact of AI on the Entertainment Industry

When we think of AI, the first thing that comes to mind is a utility that helps us deliver experiences to our users or customers. In reality, AI is much more than that. It can add value to both our pre- and post-production processes, resulting in reduced costs and manpower.

History

Before TikTok, ByteDance, its parent company, had a long history of using AI to curate content for people with different backgrounds in multiple applications. But its first success was with an application called Toutiao, which means “headlines” in English.

Toutiao is a China-only application that analyzes the features of content, users, and their interactions with content. It uses the company’s algorithms to generate a tailored feed list of content for each user.

This product was launched in August 2012 and sourced content from all over the Internet, using natural language processing and computer vision. Toutiao extracts entities and keywords as features from each piece of content. When a user first opens the app, Toutiao makes a preliminary recommendation, and then fine-tunes its models based on the user’s interactions with the app. With this level of content curation, Toutiao was able to outperform traditional media outlets, which put the power of curation in the hands of small groups, who assumed what the reader would like.

In September 2016, ByteDance released Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. Unlike other social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which curate user content based on what their friends or followers like, Douyin took a different approach. Using its advanced AI model to curate user content in a single endless feed to drive more engagement. With each use, the AI model improves, to the point where it knows the user better than the user knows himself.

Applications of AI in the Entertainment Industry

The applications of AI in the entertainment industry are vast, and here are some of the most trend-setting ones in 2022:

• Content Personalization

Imagine a world where you can access the exact content you want to watch, read, or listen to, with the exact topic or storyline you prefer, featuring characters of your choice. It might seem like fiction, but AI is making this world a reality. With the advancements in deep learning and NLP technologies, we might soon see even more sophisticated content personalization. For now, you can experience this type of personalization on social media platforms like TikTok, which uses AI to curate content for its users, driving engagement and keeping users on the platform for hours.

• SEO and Advertising

With changing customer interests, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for advertising-based businesses to deliver targeted ads to their customers. AI, however, enables businesses to keep up with their customers’ real-time preferences, ensuring they remain competitive. By using AI to deliver targeted ads based on individual preferences, businesses can save resources, increase profit margins, and, at the same time, customers can find exactly what they’re looking for, leading to increased satisfaction.

• Generating Content

As mentioned in a previous blog post about AI platforms, there is a new wave of AI platforms, such as DALLE 2 and Synthesia, that take user input and generate media based on the meaning behind that input. These platforms offer vast business opportunities, as they allow companies to save time and resources.

In conclusion, the entertainment industry has seen a significant impact from the integration of AI technology. AI has revolutionized the way content is personalized, delivered, and advertised to users. From the success of TikTok, which uses AI algorithms to curate content and drive engagement, to new AI platforms that generate media based on user input, AI has opened up new doors of opportunity for businesses in the entertainment industry. The future of AI in entertainment looks promising, with advancements in deep learning and NLP technologies, we can expect even more sophisticated personalization and efficient delivery of content