logo
AI video tool that creates 'original series' in minutes sparks fear of replacing scriptwriters and creatives

AI video tool that creates 'original series' in minutes sparks fear of replacing scriptwriters and creatives

The National3 days ago
Filmmakers, industry experts and students in the UAE are voicing concerns that artificial intelligence could strip cinema of its human touch and threaten creative careers.
The warnings come after Fable, a company backed by Amazon, unveiled Showrunner, an AI platform described as the 'Netflix of AI' that allows users to generate fully animated series using simple text prompts.
Users can create episodes by writing dialogue, prompting scenes and developing characters, with the AI handling everything from animation to voiceovers.
In the UAE, filmmakers and students are divided, with some seeing AI as a valuable creative assistant, while others warn it risks producing generic, soulless content and undermining career paths for young storytellers.
Currently on limited release, Showrunner is expected to become widely available in the coming months
The launch has reignited debate over whether AI will democratise storytelling by removing production barriers or disrupt the collaborative craft that has defined filmmaking for more than a century.
Prof Peter Bentley, computer scientist and AI creativity expert at University College London, said the latest platform makes it 'remarkably quick and easy' to create new works, provided they closely resemble existing ones.
'Creative and highly innovative outputs are not going to be so easy,' he told The National.
How it works
Showrunner works by letting users input short text prompts, from a few sentences describing characters and setting to more detailed scene-by-scene scripts.
The AI then generates storyboards, animates characters, voices dialogue and stitches it all together into watchable episodes.
Users can either create original series or customise templates of existing shows such as Exit Valley, a Silicon Valley satire, or South Park -style animations.
Access is currently restricted to a select group of creators testing the platform, with only a small library of prebuilt series available to modify.
While the AI can quickly generate plotlines and character arcs, it works best when those stories resemble familiar formats and genres, a limitation Professor Bentley says still keeps it far from replacing traditional filmmaking.
Fable has said broader access is expected in the coming months, prompting debate over whether these tools are already capable of producing watchable, formula-driven seasons or if they remain in their early experimental phase.
Filmmakers' fears
Faisal Hashmi, a UAE-based director and co-writer of the upcoming City of Life 2, said platforms such as Showrunner risk removing human vision from the filmmaking process.
'These tools are designed to undermine traditional narrative craftsmanship,' he told The National.
'What is film if not the vision of a storyteller using their own experiences to make you feel something? If you remove that process, is it really a film any more?'
Some experiments, such as the AI-generated short film The Ghost in My Machine, showcase the technology's potential for speed and visual novelty, though critics say such pieces often lack emotional subtlety.
Mr Hashmi believes audiences will eventually reject AI-only content, though he sees potential for AI to support, rather than replace, filmmakers. He has used AI for storyboarding and visual effects.
'If AI aids the process rather than replaces you,' he said, 'it has a place in filmmaking.'
Prof Bentley echoed this, saying AI cannot yet match the originality of a human storyteller. 'We need creative people to make the outputs truly watchable,' he said.
Will we need filmmakers?
Razan Takash, filmmaker and head of film at SAE University, Dubai, said AI shortcuts essential learning for aspiring filmmakers. ''Instead of learning filmmaking, they're learning film prompting,' she told The National.
She compared it to weightlifting: 'You can't prompt somebody else to lift the weight for you and expect to become a bodybuilder.'
Ms Takash said AI could offer opportunities to those who understand filmmaking but lack resources. However, she warned that as access becomes widespread, originality could be lost.
'Eventually, everybody's going to have the opportunity to make this kind of content,' she said. 'So no one is special, and it is going to be hard to stand out. We can compare this to the early days of streaming and YouTubers.'
Prof Bentley also noted that most AI-generated content is derivative, trained on the work of human artists, which raises copyright concerns. 'Artists may need to license their work for use by AIs, or consider legal action against companies that use it without permission,' he said.
No humanity
Nada Majdalawieh, a UAE-based master's student in TV and screenwriting at Stephens College in Los Angeles, said students are already worried about how AI will affect their careers.
'Storytelling is inherently human and the idea of replacing that with something generated feels like a step backwards rather than forward,' she told The National.
She added that if AI tools take over those creative roles, 'we're not just talking about streamlining a process, we're eliminating entire career paths for creatives who've been working years to find themselves in this industry'.
Ms Majdalawieh said AI could eventually automate everything from scriptwriting to directing. 'These aren't distant hypotheticals,' she said.
'They're real concerns already looming over us as students. We can all feel it, and honestly, it's scary.'
New access for creators
Mohammed Mamdouh, filmmaker and assistant professor of film and new media design at the American University of Sharjah, offered a more optimistic view. He said AI can empower voices previously locked out of the industry.
'AI-generated shows and films empower storytellers who might otherwise be sidelined,' he told The National. 'That's a radical shift in access.'
Mr Mamdouh described AI as transformative rather than destructive, calling it 'not the death of cinema' but rather 'the rebirth.'
However, he cautioned that AI could compromise filmmaking's collaborative spirit.
When the director 'becomes the sole engine prompting alone', he said, the rich dynamic of working alongside production designers, cinematographers and sound artists may start to erode.
Industry outlook
The AI market in the film industry is projected to grow from $1.28 billion in 2024 to $1.6 billion in 2025 and reach approximately $14 billion by 2033, according to The Business Research Company.
The wider AI in the media and entertainment sector is expected to rise from $25.98 billion this year to nearly $99.48 billion by 2030.
In the Middle East and North Africa, subscription video-on-demand revenue is forecast to hit $1.5 billion by the end of 2025, driven by platforms such as Shahid, Netflix, YouTube Premium and StarzPlay, according to Omdia, a consultancy firm specialising in technology and media.
Analysts say AI could lower production costs and accelerate localisation, while Hollywood studios are already testing hybrid models that blend human creativity with AI-generated visuals.
Future of storytelling
While the technology gains momentum globally, UAE filmmakers and students remain cautious about fully adopting it.
Mr Hashmi believes the pendulum will eventually swing back. 'People will crave original stories made by human beings,' he said.
Ms Majdalawieh said students face an uncertain path ahead. 'Filmmaking opportunities will still exist for a while,' she said. 'But there's a growing uncertainty about how long that will last.'
Mr Mamdouh said filmmakers must help shape AI's role in storytelling rather than resist it. 'We must shape the future,' he said, 'rather than let it shape us.'
On whether AI can truly replicate human emotion, Prof Bentley was sceptical: 'If you don't mind unoriginal and rather drab content, then it will be fine for you. Sounds a bit like many Hollywood movies, so maybe there is a place for AI there.'
His advice to creatives and educators: 'Reality is always better than imitation, and AI can only imitate us.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

♊ Gemini Daily Horoscope for August 13, 2025
♊ Gemini Daily Horoscope for August 13, 2025

UAE Moments

time30 minutes ago

  • UAE Moments

♊ Gemini Daily Horoscope for August 13, 2025

Chatty, clever, and casually running the show without breaking a sweat. Gemini, August 13 is keeping your calendar full and your mind firing on all cylinders. Mercury is dialed into your creativity today, making your thoughts flow faster than your group chats. Whether you're bouncing between meetings, memes, or deep life convos; you're in your element. It's giving: chaos, but make it controlled. Click here to follow our WhatsApp channel for daily tarot, love, career, and Chinese horoscope drops straight to your phone. Brain = Buzzing, Social Life = Thriving Today's energy is peak Gemini: fast-paced, wildly social, and filled with 'wait, what if we did it this way?' moments. You're sparking conversations, remixing old ideas, and turning casual chats into collaborations. Warning: your DMs might get overwhelmed (in the best way). Gemini Tip: Stay open to spontaneous plans, one could shift your whole week (or your heart). Career & Money: Speak It Into Existence This is a perfect day to present, pitch, post, or promote. Your words are magnetic, your timing is sharp, and your ideas are landing exactly where they need to. Just be sure to write things down, brilliance is flying at lightning speed, and you don't want to forget the million-dollar moment. Energy: TED Talk meets coffee-fueled brainstorm. Love & Friendship: Talk Flirty to Me Flirting today? Effortless. Whether you're sending voice notes, texting your crush, or casually dropping deep truths mid-banter, you're hitting all the right frequencies. Single? Sparks might fly where you least expect. In a relationship? Schedule a spontaneous date or let one happen organically. Flirt cue: 'What's something random that totally fascinates you?' Boom. Instant connection. You're living for the pace but don't forget to slow your scroll and check in with yourself. Even five minutes of fresh air or journaling between tasks can recharge your super-social soul. Think of it as resetting your brain's Wi-Fi. Lucky Color: Sky Blue Lucky Numbers: 3 & 17 Cosmic Playlist Song: 'Electric' – Alina Baraz ft. Khalid Affirmation of the Day: 'I connect with clarity, share with joy, and stay centered in the buzz.' Gemini Thought for August 13: You're not 'too much.' You're just operating on a higher bandwidth and it's working.

US state bans AI therapy as others begin to scrutinise chatbots
US state bans AI therapy as others begin to scrutinise chatbots

Al Etihad

timean hour ago

  • Al Etihad

US state bans AI therapy as others begin to scrutinise chatbots

12 Aug 2025 23:24 (AGENCIES)Illinois last week banned the use of artificial intelligence in mental health therapy, joining a small group of states regulating the emerging use of AI-powered chatbots for emotional support and therapists in Illinois are now forbidden from using AI to make treatment decisions or communicate with clients, though they can still use AI for administrative are also not allowed to offer AI-powered therapy services - or advertise chatbots as therapy tools - without the involvement of a licensed passed a similar set of restrictions on AI companies offering therapy services in June, while Utah also tightened regulations for AI use in mental health in May but stopped short of banning the use of bans come as experts have raised alarms about the potential dangers of therapy with AI chatbots that haven't been reviewed by regulators for safety and effectiveness. Already, cases have emerged of chatbots engaging in harmful conversations with vulnerable people - and of users revealing personal information to chatbots without realising their conversations were not bill says AI companies cannot provide or advertise "services provided to diagnose, treat, or improve an individual's mental health or behavioral health' unless they are conducted by a licensed will be based on complaints, which will be investigate through existing processes for handling reports of wrongdoing by unlicensed or licensed professionals. Violators will face a civil penalty not exceeding $10,000, according to the turning to AI for mental health support have several options today. Most generic AI models like ChatGPT are responsive and enthusiastic conversationalists. Several platforms allow users to converse with customised AI chatbots tweaked to project a specific personality or demeanor - including "licensed therapists.' Some start-ups also market AI services specifically tailored for therapeutic say AI services, especially those developed with therapy in mind, can be a helpful and always available remedy for those struggling to access professional some studies have found that AI can be a poor or even dangerous replacement for a human therapist. A February study by University of California at Berkeley researchers found that chatbots can tend toward encouraging harmful behavior by users when asked, including recommending a hypothetical addict take just three states have passed laws regulating AI therapy, others are exploring the issue. The California Senate is mulling a bill to appoint a mental health and artificial intelligence working group. New Jersey lawmakers are pushing a bill that would forbid AI developers from advertising their systems as mental health professionals. And a proposed Pennsylvania bill would require parents to provide consent before a student can receive "virtual mental health services,' including from AI.

Billions wiped out as software sinks on AI disruption fear
Billions wiped out as software sinks on AI disruption fear

Al Etihad

timean hour ago

  • Al Etihad

Billions wiped out as software sinks on AI disruption fear

12 Aug 2025 22:39 (BLOOMBERG) Growing worries that artificial intelligence tools could soon disrupt the world's biggest software businesses are sparking a selloff across the sector.A 30% plunge in Ltd. shares grabbed investor attention in Europe on Tuesday, with some analysts saying the drop reflected concerns over the long-term competitive threat of AI as much as results that failed to meet higher investor worries fueled big losses across the sector. SAP SE - Europe's biggest company by market value - dropped as much as 7.1% in Frankfurt, erasing almost €22 billion ($26 billion) at the session low. Smaller peers like Sage Group Plc and Dassault Systemes SE also slid, following on from Monday's slide among the likes of Salesforce Inc. and Workday are growing that incumbent software makers may be at risk of heightened competition, if AI tools now allow applications to be made more quickly and at a much lower this month, OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman warned that the sector could enter a "fast fashion era very soon' in terms of AI enabling cheaper, rapid production."Software valuations remain under pressure from the 'death of software due to AI' narrative, which likely drives continued volatility in the short term,' RBC Capital Markets analysts led by Matthew Hedberg wrote in a note on is among the weakest performers within tech this year, with shares of Salesforce Inc. down more than 30% and Adobe down by about 25%. A basket of software stocks is trading near the lowest levels since January versus a group of semiconductor worry has also spread to companies that offer research insights and IT consultancy services, such as Gartner Inc, which reduced its full-year outlook last week. While the firm cited factors like tariffs and government budget cuts, analysts said the weak result exacerbated concerns over competition from AI research some see buying opportunities following the rapid price drops. Morgan Stanley analyst Josh Baer raised his rating on to overweight on Tuesday, saying the stock's pullback "more than incorporates' risks of AI disrupting search advertising and performance marketing."Investors are fearing that AI is going to eat software and multiples are going to fall apart,' Jefferies analyst Brent Thill said in a CNBC interview on Monday. "I think the fear is overblown, but nevertheless we are living through a period right now where investors just really don't care about the group.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store