Notes From Post Mini: Navigating the AI Revolution in Post Production
5 Strategies for Survival and Success in the Age of AI
Hi there, I'm Shawna! For more than a decade, I've been leading teams of Post Professionals through the wild ride of showbiz. Through the successful delivery of over 300 hours of television and numerous feature films, I've honed my craft. My goal is to share helpful insights that might make someone else's journey a just bit smoother.
Today I’m going to be talking about navigating the AI revolution and some strategies for survival and success in this very real world where AI is quickly being integrated into nearly everything.
Embrace Lifelong Learning and Automation
Cultivate Human-Centric Skills
Embrace Collaborative Partnerships
Foster Ethical AI Development
Invest in Learning and Training Programs
In recent years, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked both excitement and criticism about the future of work and society. As AI technologies continue to advance, I’ve noticed a growing fear that humans may be replaced by machines in various aspects of life. I’ve taken a slightly different stance, rather than succumbing to these fears, I think it’s crucial to recognize that humans have unique qualities that can complement AI technologies and adapt to using them in our workflows vs being overwhelmed by the idea of them possibly taking over our jobs. That doesn’t mean that some jobs previously done by humans won’t be taken over by AI but by taking practical steps, individuals and organizations can ensure human relevance in the age of AI by learning how to optimize the technology instead of fight them.
Before I jump into some of the ways I’ve been working on embracing the use of AI in my workflows I want to point out something that I frequently find myself thinking on. That is the play by Elmer Rice The Adding Machine. Every generation I feel has this moment, where we are overwhelmed by the technology and thought of the time and resist it. The Adding Machine was a play that I was required to write a paper on while I was at college and it has stuck with me. Not necessarily that the play was all that great (it’s not, it’s awful, like don’t ever make me watch it again awful) but the idea behind it keeps coming to mind. That is, we either get stuck in our fear of progress or we make the choice to embrace it.
Alright now to the good stuff.
1. Embrace Lifelong Learning and Automation
The rapid pace of technological advancement demands continuous learning and adding skills to our repertoire. This is one of the things that I love the most about post is that the technology in post is constantly involving so there are always new things to learn. Especially with this week’s announcement of the way Premiere is integrating AI into its platform. I gotta say some of those things I already know for a fact are going to be incredibly useful. Take advantage of online courses, workshops, and educational resources to acquire new skills and deepen existing knowledge. Another significant benefit of integrating AI technology into workflows is the ability to automate routine and repetitive tasks. AI-powered automation can handle mundane, time-consuming activities such as data entry, and scheduling. By automating these tasks, I can focus more time and energy on more strategic and value-added activities that require creativity and critical thinking. AI technology can also enhance decision-making processes by providing valuable insights and predictive analytics. By analyzing large volumes of data in real-time, AI algorithms can identify patterns, trends, and correlations that I might otherwise overlook. This helps me have an edge in budgeting and scheduling and potential issues up ahead. This enables me to make data-driven decisions quickly and accurately, leading to better outcomes and improved strategic planning. By staying adaptable and continuously updating my skill set, I’m making sure I can remain competitive in the job market and contribute meaningfully to my field.
2. Cultivate Human-Centric Skills
While AI excels at tasks involving data analysis and repetitive patterns, it lacks human qualities such as empathy, creativity, and emotional intelligence. THIS IS HUGE. Emotional intelligence is one that I think gets too often over looked but this is a key skill. Being able to know what motives myself as well as others will always give me an edge over AI. AI won’t be able to tell me how a human will be able to respond to something it produces, only humans can do that. If you get really good at that you’ll always have an edge. Develop strong interpersonal communication skills, empathy, and the ability to collaborate effectively with others. Focus on honing your creativity and critical thinking abilities, as these qualities enable humans to solve complex problems and generate innovative solutions.
3. Embrace Collaborative Partnerships
Rather than viewing AI as a threat, embrace it as a tool for collaboration and enhancement. Work alongside AI systems to leverage their capabilities and augment your own. In this day and age where we’re all having to wear more and more hats, AI helps me have a life. I don’t have to spend the hours and hours I used to analyzing spreadsheets. I work on identifying areas where AI can automate routine tasks, freeing up time for me to focus on higher-level decision-making items and leave me to be freer to be more creative. Which after all is why I got into this industry in the first place. Collaborative partnerships between humans and AI can lead to greater efficiency, productivity, and innovation across various industries.
4. Foster Ethical AI Development
As AI technologies continue to evolve, it's essential to prioritize ethics and responsible AI development. This is extremely important. One of the biggest points for the strikes last year was ensuring ethical use of AI in our industry, I stood behind the WGA and SAG-AFTA as they advocated for the responsible use of AI that prioritized fairness, transparency, and accountability. Our industry can be incredibly predatory and it’s important that we, the workers, stand together in ensuring we engage in discussions about the ethical implications of AI and work towards the development of AI systems that align with ethical principles and value humans. By continuing to stand together we can mitigate potential risks and ensure that AI serves the greater good.
5. Invest in Learning and Training Programs
To address concerns about job displacement due to AI automation, invest in learning how to incorporate AI to support your needs. Learn how to treat AI like a personal partner who can take care of the hardest things that don’t bring you joy. Then work on incorporating it into the things you enjoy but can make you faster at those so you’re able to gain more control of your time. Our industry is brutal and any way I can work faster/smarter and not harder in order to create a semblance of work/life balance I always try.
I try hard to take a proactive approach to navigating the world of AI. I focus on continuous learning, human-centric skills, collaborative partnerships, ethical AI development, and investment in learning and training programs that help me stay on top of the curve. By taking practical steps to ensure human relevance in the age of AI, we can harness the potential of AI technologies while preserving the unique qualities that make us human. Instead of fearing displacement, let’s try to embrace the opportunities that AI presents and work towards a future where humans and machines collaborate harmoniously for the benefit of society. That’s a lot to ask for, and if history is any teacher it’s a very uphill battle, but I’m committed to always put humans first.
Until Next Time,
Shawna Carroll