News Stories

Synthetic Media Summit June 8 at USC

The Entertainment Technology Center at the University of Southern California is organizing its inaugural Synthetic Media Summit on June 8 on the USC campus to chart the course of AI-driven future.  As artificial intelligence promises to change the way media content is produced, distributed and consumed, even altering the nature of media itself, are we fully ready?  This high-level event will gather top AI experts and media executives to discuss the state, media use cases, and ethics of synthetic media for the news and entertainment industries.

June 8th, 9:00am – 5:00pm at the University of Southern California.

8:00am: Continental Breakfast and Check-In

REGISTER NOW to attend or watch via webinar.  In-person seating is limited, and remote attendance is available at a reduced cost.  Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite, for $175 and $50, respectively (plus tax).

Scheduled Speakers (subject to change):

  • Dr Morten Bay, Lecturer / Research Fellow, Center for Digital Future (USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism)
  • Yves Bergquist, AI Researcher / Director, AI & Blockchain project (ETC@USC)
  • Stella Biderman, AI Ethics Researcher (Eleuther.ai)
  • Elizabeth Daley, Dean, USC School of Cinematic Arts
  • Laura Davis, Associate Professor, Professional Practice (USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism)
  • Angela Dunning, Partner (Cooley LLC)
  • Laura Ellis, Head of Technology Forecasting (BBC R&D)
  • Emilio Ferrara, Associate Professor, Communication, Computer Science and Preventive Medicine (USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism)
  • Anthony Guarino, EVP, Global Production & Studio Technology (Paramount)
  • Evo Heyning, Executive producer/ CEO (Realitycraft)
  • Melody Hildebrant, CISO (Fox Corp )/ President (Blockchain Creative Labs)
  • Renard Jenkins, SVP, Production Integration & Creative Technology Services (Warner Bros. Discovery)
  • Julianna Kirschner, Lecturer, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
  • Dr Mark Lemley, Professor, Director of the Program in Law, Science & Technology  (Stanford University)
  • Ryan Luu, Director of Product, CoreUX & Personalization (The Washington Post)
  • Dr Gary Marcus, Author, Entrepreneur, and Professor of Psychology (NYU)
  • Margaret Mitchell, Chief Ethicist (Hugging Face)
  • Amli Murphy, Community Media Associate of Edutainment (Stability AI)
  • Sanjay Pandit, CTO (CAA)
  • Jennifer Peterson, Associate Professor of Communication / Director, Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology Studies (USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism)
  • Nikki Pope, Head of AI Legal (NVIDIA)
  • Nikola Todorovic, Founder & CEO (Wonder Dynamics)
  • Ken Williams, Executive Director, Entertainment Technology Center at USC
  • Simon Yuen, Sr Director (NVIDIA Omiverse)
Time Session Speakers
9:00am – 9:25am Introduction Elizabeth Daley, Dean, USC School of Cinematic Arts
Ken Williams, Executive Director, Entertainment Technology Center at USC
Dr. Morten Bay, Lecturer / Research Fellow, Center for Digital Future, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Yves Bergquist, AI Researcher / Director, AI & Blockchain in Media project, Entertainment Technology Center at USC
9:30am – 10:25am How Generative AI Changes the Game for Visual Artists Amli, AI Artist
Evo Heyning, Executive Producer / CEO, Realitycraft
Julianna Kirschner, Lecturer, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
10:30am – 11:25am Where is Generative AI and Where It’s Going: The View from the Frontier Dr. Gary Marcus, Author / Entrepreneur / Professor of Psychology, NYU
Nikola Todorovic, Founder & CEO, Wonder Dynamics
Simon Yuen, Sr Director, NVIDIA Omniverse
Yves Bergquist
11:30am – 12:25pm Synthetic Media in the News: Friend or Foe? Ryan Luu, Director of Product, CoreUX & Personalization, The Washington Post
Laura Ellis, Head of Technology Forecasting, BBC R&D
Laura Davis, Associate Professor, Professional Practice, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
12:30pm – 1:30pm Lunch
1:30pm – 2:25pm Generative AI: The View from the Studios and Agencies Anthony Guarino, EVP, Global Production & Studio Technology, Paramount
Melody Hildebrandt, CISO / President, Fox Corp/Blockchain Creative Labs
Renard T. Jenkins, SVP, Production Integration & Creative Technology Services, Warner Bros. Discovery
Sanjay Pandit, CTO, CAA
2:30pm – 3:25pm Is This Thing Even Legal? Angela Dunning, Partner, Cooley LLC
Dr. Mark Lemley, Professor, Director of the Program in Law, Science & Technology, Stanford University
Jennifer Peterson, Associate Professor of Communication / Director, Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology Studies, USC Annenberg
Nikki Pope, Head of AI Legal, NVIDIA
3:30pm – 4:25pm Getting It Right and Doing No Wrong: Generative AI and Ethics Emilio Ferrara, Associate Professor, Communication, Computer Science and Preventive Medicine, USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism
Yves Bergquist
Stella Biderman, AI Ethics Researcher, Eleuther.ai
Margaret Mitchell, Chief Ethicist, Hugging Face
Dr. Morten Bay
4:30pm – 4:45pm Closing Remarks

YOUTUBE CHANNELS

Our Youtube channel can be found here
Watch the vNAB videos below

SOUNDCLOUD TALKS

MISSION

  • To advance technology and innovation within the entertainment industry
  • To provide a neutral setting for the entertainment industry, technology and electronics companies and to identify and discuss pressing issues
  • To understand the impact of technology on the consumer experience and the creative process
  • To connect and leverage the University of Southern California’s extensive research facilities, faculty and student body with companies
  • To provide insight about emerging consumer habits
  • To convene industry peer groups and partners to share knowledge and experience
  • To create an environment for testing and evaluation of proposed technology solutions
  • To help identify new business models for the entertainment industry
  • To improve the consumer experience and advance the art of entertainment as the 21st century unfolds

ETC Events

 

ETC Quarterly Board Meeting (closed meeting)
(June 1)


ETC Synthetic Media Summit
(June 8, USC and Webinar $$)


ETC Quarterly All Members Meeting (closed meeting)
(June 15)