On Our Latest Episode of Focus On, I wanted to highlight an intriguing discussion from the newest Focus On episode. We explored the growing influence of artificial intelligence in the video production world – a topic that's increasingly relevant for all of us. I had a great chat with Zoe Groves, one of our skilled team members, about her first-hand experience with AI in our industry. Her insights were so compelling, I felt they deserved to be shared.

Zoe views AI as an incredibly useful tool when used thoughtfully. She explained how we utilize it at Take One for tasks like cleaning up audio and removing visual blemishes – it’s a huge time-saver. But she also cautioned against overdependence. While AI can cut costs upfront, it raises ethical questions and can negatively affect how clients view creative work. She cited a recent ad campaign by a fashion brand that used AI-generated bunny images – it flopped due to public backlash over the lack of human artist involvement.

Aside from moral concerns, AI has practical limits. It relies on identifying patterns in existing content, so it struggles to create anything truly original. It also frequently gets small things wrong – like distorted hands in AI art or awkward-sounding, robotic text. As Zoe said, it often lacks a human “soul,” which becomes evident in the finer details. Insightful, isn’t it?

What stood out most to me was the environmental cost of AI. The energy use of some data centers is on par with that of entire small nations – pretty shocking, right? Another big takeaway: depending too heavily on AI might actually dull our own creative instincts. Finding the right balance is key.

There was also a humorous exchange about a new WhatsApp AI assistant that can’t be disabled. Zoe joked that it wouldn’t stay that way for long if users pushed back. And to wrap things up with a laugh – my husband wasn’t thrilled when I jokingly hinted he might end up doing the ironing. Just goes to show that no matter how advanced tech gets, the human touch still plays a big role – both at work and at home.

To listen to the full podcast please use this link: AI in Video Production