[NEW YORK] Gone are the days of six-fingered hands or distorted faces – artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video is becoming increasingly convincing, attracting Hollywood, artists, and advertisers, while shaking the foundations of the creative industry.

To measure the progress of AI video, you need only look at Will Smith eating spaghetti.

Since 2023, this unlikely sequence – entirely fabricated – has become a technological benchmark for the industry.

Two years ago, the actor appeared blurry, his eyes too far apart, his forehead exaggeratedly protruding, his movements jerky, and the spaghetti did not even reach his mouth.

The version published a few weeks ago by a user of Google’s Veo 3 platform showed no apparent flaws whatsoever.

“Every week, sometimes every day, a different one comes out that’s even more stunning than the next,” said Elizabeth Strickler, a professor at Georgia State University.

Between Luma Labs’ Dream Machine, launched in June 2024, OpenAI’s Sora in December, Runway AI’s Gen-4 in March 2025, and Veo 3 in May, the sector has crossed several milestones in just a few months.

Runway has signed deals with Lionsgate studio and AMC Networks television group.

Lionsgate vice-president Michael Burns told New York Magazine about the possibility of using AI to generate animated, family-friendly versions from films such as the John Wick or Hunger Games franchises, rather than creating entirely new projects.

“Some use it for storyboarding or previsualization” – steps that come before filming – “others for visual effects or inserts”, said Jamie Umpherson, Runway’s creative director.

Burns gave the example of a script for which Lionsgate has to decide whether to shoot a scene or not.

To help make that decision, they can now create a 10-second clip “with 10,000 soldiers in a snowstorm”.

That kind of pre-visualisation would have cost millions before.

In October, the first AI feature film was released, Where the Robots Grow, an animated film without anything resembling live action footage.

For Alejandro Matamala Ortiz, Runway’s co-founder, an AI-generated feature film is not the end goal, but a way of demonstrating to a production team that “this is possible”.

Resistance everywhere

Still, some see an opportunity.

In March, startup Staircase Studio made waves by announcing plans to produce seven to eight films per year using AI for less than US$500,000 each, while ensuring it would rely on unionised professionals wherever possible.

“The market is there,” said Andrew White, co-founder of small production house Indie Studios.

People “don’t want to talk about how it’s made”, White pointed out. “That’s inside baseball. People want to enjoy the movie because of the movie.”

But White himself refuses to adopt the technology, considering that using AI would compromise his creative process.

Jamie Umpherson argues that AI allows creators to stick closer to their artistic vision than ever before, since it enables unlimited revisions, unlike the traditional system constrained by costs.

“I see resistance everywhere” to this movement, observed Georgia State’s Strickler.

This is particularly true among her students, who are concerned about AI’s massive energy and water consumption as well as the use of original works to train models, not to mention the social impact.

But refusing to accept the shift is “kind of like having a business without having the internet”, she said. “You can try for a little while.”

In 2023, the American actors’ union SAG-AFTRA secured concessions on the use of their image through AI.

Strickler sees AI diminishing Hollywood’s role as the arbiter of creation and taste, instead allowing more artists and creators to reach a significant audience.

Runway’s founders, who are as much trained artists as they are computer scientists, have gained an edge over their AI video rivals in film, television, and advertising.

But they are already looking further ahead, considering expansion into augmented reality and virtual reality, for example, creating a metaverse where films could be shot.

“The most exciting applications aren’t necessarily the ones that we have in mind,” said Umpherson. “The ultimate goal is to see what artists do with technology.” AFP

NEW YORK, United States – Gone are the days of six-fingered hands or distorted faces — AI-generated video is becoming increasingly convincing, attracting Hollywood, artists, and advertisers, while shaking the foundations of the creative industry.

To measure the progress of AI video, you need only look at Will Smith eating spaghetti.

Since 2023, this unlikely sequence — entirely fabricated — has become a technological benchmark for the industry.

READ: How investments in reskilling, building trust can help Philippine firms navigate AI era

Two years ago, the actor appeared blurry, his eyes too far apart, his forehead exaggeratedly protruding, his movements jerky, and the spaghetti didn’t even reach his mouth.

The version published a few weeks ago by a user of Google’s Veo 3 platform showed no apparent flaws whatsoever.

“Every week, sometimes every day, a different one comes out that’s even more stunning than the next,” said Elizabeth Strickler, a professor at Georgia State University.

Between Luma Labs’ Dream Machine launched in June 2024, OpenAI’s Sora in December, Runway AI’s Gen-4 in March 2025, and Veo 3 in May, the sector has crossed several milestones in just a few months.

Runway has signed deals with Lionsgate studio and AMC Networks television group.

Lionsgate vice president Michael Burns told New York Magazine about the possibility of using artificial intelligence to generate animated, family-friendly versions from films like the “John Wick” or “Hunger Games” franchises, rather than creating entirely new projects.

“Some use it for storyboarding or previsualization” — steps that come before filming — “others for visual effects or inserts,” said Jamie Umpherson, Runway’s creative director.

Burns gave the example of a script for which Lionsgate has to decide whether to shoot a scene or not.

To help make that decision, they can now create a 10-second clip “with 10,000 soldiers in a snowstorm.”

That kind of pre-visualization would have cost millions before.

In October, the first AI feature film was released — “Where the Robots Grow” — an animated film without anything resembling live action footage.

For Alejandro Matamala Ortiz, Runway’s co-founder, an AI-generated feature film is not the end goal, but a way of demonstrating to a production team that “this is possible.”

‘Resistance everywhere’

Still, some see an opportunity.

In March, startup Staircase Studio made waves by announcing plans to produce seven to eight films per year using AI for less than $500,000 each, while ensuring it would rely on unionized professionals wherever possible.

“The market is there,” said Andrew White, co-founder of small production house Indie Studios.

People “don’t want to talk about how it’s made,” White pointed out. “That’s inside baseball. People want to enjoy the movie because of the movie.”

But White himself refuses to adopt the technology, considering that using AI would compromise his creative process.

Jamie Umpherson argues that AI allows creators to stick closer to their artistic vision than ever before, since it enables unlimited revisions, unlike the traditional system constrained by costs.

“I see resistance everywhere” to this movement, observed Georgia State’s Strickler.

This is particularly true among her students, who are concerned about AI’s massive energy and water consumption as well as the use of original works to train models, not to mention the social impact.

But refusing to accept the shift is “kind of like having a business without having the internet,” she said. “You can try for a little while.”

In 2023, the American actors’ union SAG-AFTRA secured concessions on the use of their image through AI.

Strickler sees AI diminishing Hollywood’s role as the arbiter of creation and taste, instead allowing more artists and creators to reach a significant audience.

Runway’s founders, who are as much trained artists as they are computer scientists, have gained an edge over their AI video rivals in film, television, and advertising.

But they’re already looking further ahead, considering expansion into augmented reality and virtual reality — for example creating a metaverse where films could be shot.

“The most exciting applications aren’t necessarily the ones that we have in mind,” said Umpherson. “The ultimate goal is to see what artists do with technology.”

For quite a while now, people within the business community have been talking about how AI continues to improve task efficiency and streamline operations, but few are truly exploring how this new era is affecting new business lead generation.

Since opening Agent99’s doors 18 years ago, part of my new business strategy has simply been to ask people how they found us. The majority of our leads come through referrals, followed by Google. However, just last week, I was on two new business calls and when I asked both prospects how they came across Agent99, they gave the same surprising response: “by asking ChatGPT”.

Where consumers and clients once relied on Google for recommendations, be it agencies, restaurants, dry cleaners, or anything in between, that’s no longer the default.

Today, people are entering these same queries into AI tools and expecting real-time, curated answers based on a mix of web data, reviews, and sentiment. And this shift has caught many business owners off guard. A high Google ranking no longer guarantees your business will be visible or recommended through AI platforms. All that work on your SEO strategy? It’s no longer the only game in town.

This was a light bulb moment for me as a business owner. If you’re not thinking about how you rank on AI platforms and prioritising this, you’re losing new business opportunities.

When I took a deeper look at why we were ranking so well on ChatGPT, and how this new kind of ‘search engine’ prioritises content, I realised (after some thorough research) that it’s because we’ve consistently focussed on our own PR (ie third party credible endorsement), winning awards, garnering reviews from our clients, and reporting on our marketing campaigns on our own website blog and social pages. This is what AI platforms prioritise when making recommendations. 

So, if you’ve noticed a dip in leads lately or you simply want to boost your company’s visibility in the AI space, here are three strategies I strongly recommend. 

Make your SEO plan AI-friendly

It’s no longer enough to optimise your company website for Google alone. Instead of short, Boolean-style search queries, people are now asking long-form, conversational questions. And in response, tools like ChatGPT are generating concise, curated answers drawn from a wide range of sources — with a clear preference for natural, human-sounding language.

It might seem ironic that AI prefers human content, but it’s the new reality.

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To match this, we recommend rewriting key pages on your website, starting with your ‘About’, ‘Services’ and ‘Home’ pages, using language that mirrors how real people would ask for your services in everyday conversation.

For example, instead of writing: “We deliver integrated management solutions,” try: “We help Australian businesses develop management strategies that support sustainable growth”.

If relevant, start a blog that directly answers the kinds of questions people might be asking ChatGPT, and think carefully about how they’re asking them. Once you’ve mapped out your content strategy, commit to publishing consistently. AI platforms favour businesses that post regularly and demonstrate long-term authority in their field.

Prioritise earned media and content

AI tools place more weight on what others say about your business than what you say about yourself. So, while your website content is important, the next priority is securing earned media coverage. This includes article mentions in credible publications and thought leadership content in niche outlets relevant to your industry.

While the media landscape has evolved, organic coverage on high-authority platforms still carries serious influence. That includes local business media, trade publications, and long-form podcasts — especially those with strong digital footprints. A single mention in a well-respected outlet often holds more weight than a dozen paid ads in the eyes of AI.

You should also be submitting your business for awards, rankings, and “Best of” lists. Third-party recognition like “Top PR Agencies in Australia” or “Best Accountants in Melbourne” dramatically increases your chances of being recommended by AI tools for those search terms.

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Lastly, make sure you’re actively collecting client testimonials and online reviews. Reach out to past and current clients and ask for a testimonial you can publish. Genuine, positive sentiment from others boosts your ranking and trust level within AI results.

Show up where conversations are happening

A lesser-known — but highly effective — way to improve your AI visibility is by showing up where your audience is already talking. Think Reddit, Quora, LinkedIn comments, Facebook groups, and even the comment sections of popular blogs or YouTube videos. AI tools are constantly crawling and learning from these conversations, and businesses that participate meaningfully often see a lift in visibility.

Start by choosing two or three platforms where your target audience is most active. If you’re B2B, this might be LinkedIn or industry forums. If you’re more consumer-facing, Reddit, TikTok, or Facebook might be the place. Jump in, answer questions, share your perspective, and most importantly, offer value.

When your brand is mentioned organically or involved in high-engagement threads, it sends strong signals to AI tools. Over time, this can help position your business as a credible authority in your space.

Also, respond to users who tag or mention your brand on social platforms. Engaging with user-generated content builds trust, encourages loyalty, and creates digital breadcrumbs that prove your relevance and responsiveness — two factors that AI prioritises more than ever.

AI isn’t just a trend; it’s a fundamental shift in how consumers discover and choose businesses.

Rather than fearing this new giant in the room, lean in. By understanding how AI platforms work and proactively shaping your digital footprint, you’ll improve your ability to attract quality leads, earn recommendations, and strengthen your brand presence in what’s becoming an increasingly competitive and complex market.