In this week’s Riffs, Lydia and I go fully blue sky – no industry news, no data drops, just a thought experiment we’re calling the 2031 Scenario.

The premise: it’s 2031 and Sarah Jane Maas has become the first author in history to sell her entire canon to a new AI called Showifai. Showifai generates content to order – you specify the book, the tone, the cast, how many episodes, how many seasons. You can even put yourself in it.

Fantastical? We go through the building blocks that would need to exist for this to be feasible – and ask what it means for authors, actors, film studios, and broadcasters and streamers. Some of the conclusions are unexpected. Some are darker than we anticipated.

We’d genuinely love to know what you think – feasible, desirable, or just dystopian? Reach out to me or Lydia on LinkedIn.

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00:00 Introduction and Eurovision Excitement

01:45 Exploring the 2031 Scenario

03:37 The Role of AI in Content Creation

06:24 Feasibility of AI-Generated Content

08:43 Legal and Human Barriers to AI Usage

13:05 Actors and Their Rights in the AI Era

19:09 The Future of Actors and Stardom

24:12 The Impact of Recognisable Actors on Storytelling

25:34 The Economics of Casting and Payment Models

28:50 Impact on Film Studios in a Streaming World

36:06 Challenges for Broadcasters and Streamers

45:06 The Future of Content Creation and Consumption

47:46 The Value of Live Content in a Digital Age

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