Dream Lab LA’s Jon Finger (left) and Verena Puhm
Tools & Platforms
Luma AI Launches Dream Lab LA for AI Use in Filmmaking
July 10, 2025
Generative AI company Luma AI has announced the launch of its initiative “Dream Lab LA” headquartered in Los Angeles that combines AI technology with expertise in filmmaking.
“Dream Lab LA is designed as a creative engine room where Hollywood veterans, emerging storytellers, studios, and curious minds come together to shape the next era of storytelling — before it arrives,” according to a Luma AI press release.
According to the company, Dream Lab LA will allow filmmakers to collaborate, learn and tell new stories; studios get embedded support to modernize workflows and upskill teams; and “curious daredevils push boundaries and experiment freely.”
“Dream Lab LA is where we build what everyone else is still guessing at,” Amit Jain, CEO and founder of Luma AI, said in a statement. “This is not about chasing trends, this is about defining what’s next.”
Dream Lab LA exists to explore how AI can empower creativity, not replace it, according to Luma AI, offering a space for experimentation, education, and collaboration between studios and creators.
Luma AI also announced the leadership team for Dream Lab LA, naming Verena Puhm as head of the studio. With experience in both traditional and AI-driven storytelling, Puhm has shaped content for global giants such as CNN, BBC, Netflix, Red Bull Media and Leonine Studios. As one of the earliest creatives to embrace AI in filmmaking, she’s led projects recognized by Sundance, Project Odyssey, Curious Refuge and OpenAI’s Sora Selects. In her new role, Puhm will spearhead the studio’s vision for next-generation content and lead a slate of productions.
“I believe the future of storytelling should be shaped by the people who tell stories, not just the people who build the tools,” Puhm said in a statement. “We’re cultivating a community, a creative lab, and a launchpad for what’s next. This isn’t just another platform; it’s a creative studio built from the ground up to blend technological innovation with artistic intention.”
Jon Finger, creative workflow executive, brings more than 15 years of experience at the intersection of emerging technology and content creation. A pioneer in at-home motion capture, 3-D scanning, and virtual production, he has worked across various entertainment sectors with brands such as Paramount Network, The Game Awards, and Comedy Central, and has developed for Netflix. For the past three years, Finger has focused on AI integration in filmmaking, developing workflows that give creators physicalized control over AI-driven productions.
“The focus here is to find the best experiences for passionate creatives,” Finger said in a statement. “The world is changing quickly, and we want to find the best ways for fun, fulfilling human-centric creative expression to not only continue but be amplified, so more creative people can find a new prosperous way forward.”
From its Modify Video, Reframe, and Keyframes to its foundation models Ray2 and Photon, Luma creates instruments explicitly designed for narrative storytelling.
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Tools & Platforms
Scotta taps Nextail AI powered technology to support retailer’s growth across stores and online — Retail Technology Innovation Hub
“We’re committed to growing without compromising our values or customer experience. Partnering with Nextail allows us to proactively address operational bottlenecks and bring more precision and agility to our stock decisions. As we grow, it will be even more important to continue delivering on our brand promise of offering high-quality products at a fair price with an authentic story,” says Carlos Serra, Scotta CEO.
By leveraging Nextail, Scotta aims to boost sell-through and margins, reduce markdowns and stockouts, and improve strategic collaboration across teams through data driven insights and automation.
“Growing brands like Scotta prove that forward thinkers don’t need to wait to operate like larger industry leaders,” says Carlos Miragall, CEO and Co-Founder at Nextail. “By choosing to tackle key inventory challenges early on, they’re setting the foundation for sustainable and efficient growth, and we’re proud to be part of that story.”
RTIH AI in Retail Awards
RTIH, organiser of the industry leading RTIH Innovation Awards, proudly brings you the first edition of the RTIH AI in Retail Awards, which is now open for entries.
As we witness a digital transformation revolution across all channels, AI tools are reshaping the omnichannel game, from personalising customer experiences to optimising inventory, uncovering insights into consumer behaviour, and enhancing the human element of retailers’ businesses.
With 2025 set to be the year when AI and especially gen AI shake off the ‘heavily hyped’ tag and become embedded in retail business processes, our newly launched awards celebrate global technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world and the resulting benefits for retailers, shoppers and employees.
Our 2025 winners will be those companies who not only recognise the potential of AI, but also make it usable in everyday work – resulting in more efficiency and innovation in all areas.
Winners will be announced at an evening event at The Barbican in Central London on Wednesday, 3rd September.
Tools & Platforms
Virginia 911 call center implements AI technology to allow dispatchers to focus on emergency calls – KTVB
July 11, 2025
SEOUL – A wave of artificial intelligence certifications has flooded the market in South Korea over the past two years.
But according to government data, most of these tests exist only on paper, and have never been used by a single person.
As of Wednesday, there were 505 privately issued AI-related certifications registered with the Korea Research Institute for Professional Education and Training, a state-funded body under the Prime Minister’s Office.
This is nearly five times the number recorded in 2022, before tools like ChatGPT captured global attention. But more than 90 percent of those certifications had zero test-takers as of late last year, the institute’s own data shows.
Many of the credentials are loosely tied to artificial intelligence in name only. Among recent additions are titles like “AI Brain Fitness Coach,” “AI Art Storybook Author,” and “AI Trainer,” which often have no connection to real AI technology.
KT’s AICE is South Korea’s only nationally accredited AI certification, offering five levels of exams that assess real-world AI understanding and skills, from block coding for elementary students to Python-based modeling for professionals. PHOTO: KT/THE KOREA HERALD
Only one of the 505 AI-related certifications — KT’s AICE exam — has received official recognition from the South Korean government. The rest have been registered by individuals, companies, or private organizations, with no independent oversight or quality control.
In 2024, just 36 of these certifications held any kind of exam. Only two had more than 1,000 people apply. Fourteen had a perfect 100 percent pass rate. And 20 were removed from the registry that same year.
For test organizers, the appeal is often financial. One popular certification that attracted around 500 candidates last year charged up to 150,000 won ($110) per person, including test fees and course materials. The content reportedly consisted of basic instructions on how to use existing tools like ChatGPT or Stable Diffusion. Some issuers even promote these credentials as qualifications to teach AI to students or the general public.
The people signing up tend to be those anxious about keeping up in an AI-driven world. A survey released this week by education firm Eduwill found that among 391 South Koreans in their 20s to 50s, 39.1 percent said they planned to earn an AI certificate to prepare for the digital future. Others (27.6 percent) said they were taking online AI courses or learning how to use automation tools like Notion AI.
Industry insiders warn that most of these certificates hold little value in the job market. A local AI industry official told The Korea Herald that these credentials are often “window dressing” for resumes.
“Most private AI certifications aren’t taken seriously by hiring managers,” he said. “Even for non-technical jobs like communications or marketing, what matters more is whether someone actually understands the AI space. That can’t be faked with a certificate.”
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