AI is a highly debated technology, worrying to some while regarded as a valuable tool to others. At the Generative AI Summit yesterday, Comcast committed to investing in several LIFT Labs AI developers to utilize AI writing and video tools. Eight startup companies have secured a proof of concept, pilot, or commercial deal with Comcast NBCUniversal.
“We are excited to continue learning from these innovative startup founders to deepen our understanding of the potential of emerging technologies such as generative AI,” said Sam Schwartz, Chief Business Development Officer for Comcast.
Under the guidance of Comcast’s Executive Directors of Startup Engagement, Laura Plunkett and Luke Butler, the new Comcast NBCUniversal LIFT Labs Generative AI Accelerator will use AI tech to create new videos, avatars, and animations.
The companies selected for the AI Accelerator program are focused on developing tech in different areas with five of the startups working to create content and interactive experiences for users.
Charisma.ai will be developing tech to create more immersive, interactive narratives and experiences with AI characters. The startup is working with Sky and Universal Destinations and Experiences to “enable audiences to be cast inside experiences and speak to characters to hyper-personalize the narratives to each individual in real time.”
Inworld is another startup creating immersive experiences through AI-driven virtual characters, such as animated characters and sports-themed content. The AI tech will also be working towards making virtual worlds and games more interactive.
Rephrase.ai is also working towards creating more “lifelike digital avatars”, basically using AI tech to create videos directed by written text. This startup is focused on creating personalized videos for sales, marketing, and educational uses.
Coactive is working with Comcast to enhance video analysis capability to create personalized content for viewers. The company is working on AI advancements to add “structure to organizations’ unstructured image and video data.”
Wscripted is developing AI tech to expedite searches for “diverse writers and content” to quickly review new writers’ projects to see what projects would make a good fit for studios. The tech isn’t designed to replace writers so much as make it easier for the numerous plot pitches and scripts to be sorted.
Since launching in 2018, 84 percent of LIFT Labs startup applicants have secured partnerships with Comcast NBCUniversal. You can check out a full list of participants here.