AI Early Movers Club
You know what's wild about being here in 2024? I'm deep into playing with AI, really getting how it works, while most folks are still trying to figure out if it's Skynet or snake oil. Reminds me of when I first got into games and tech back in the day - that same gap between the folks making stuff happen and everyone else standing on the sidelines.
Back in '77 when Star Wars hit, it rewired my 10-year-old brain about what was possible in storytelling. Now AI's doing the same thing to storytelling, but at hyperspeed. The disconnect between what AI can actually do and what people think it can do keeps growing. While they're imagining sci-fi robots, I'm using AI to riff on story ideas, break down character arcs, and prototype game mechanics.
People keep waiting for some official manual on how to use AI in creative work. But that's not how this goes down. You gotta dive in and figure it out yourself, like when I was making Super 8 movies after school or designing narrative arcs for Heroes. No one handed me a playbook then either.
Sometimes when I talk about using AI in my work, people look at me like I'm pitching them a modern-day Jason and the Argonauts (which, funny enough, I actually did pitch and sell to Dreamworks back in the day). They think it's some far-off future tech, not something that's already reshaping how we create.
But here's the thing - AI's not just another tool, it's more like what happened when we went from practical effects to CGI. It's getting baked into everything from Final Draft to Unreal Engine. Soon, trying to avoid AI in creative work will be like trying to edit on a Moviola in 2024.
The economic reality is going to force everyone's hand. Studios, networks, game companies - they're all going to adopt AI to stay competitive. Just like how we had to adapt when everything went digital, when streaming changed the game, when mobile gaming exploded.
What am I doing about it? Same thing I did when I saw transmedia storytelling coming - I'm not waiting around. I'm building stuff, testing limits, finding out what works. Instead of writing theoretical papers about cross-platform narrative, I jumped in and made it happen with Heroes. Now I'm doing the same with AI.
Right now, I'm in that sweet spot where I can see what's coming before most people do. It's like being one of those early Marvel guys who knew superhero stories could be more than just kid stuff. Or like playing D&D before anyone realized how those storytelling mechanics would influence everything from video games to TV writing.
The good news? If you're reading this, you're probably ahead of the curve too. Just like having your character sheet and dice ready for a campaign, having AI in your creative toolbox means you're ready to play. Time to roll those dice and tell some stories.
