In this thought-provoking episode, Caty Burgess dives into the complexities of AI in content creation, the evolving dynamics of human connection, and the future of entertainment. From her candid skepticism about AI’s role in storytelling to her reflections on the communal power of scripted content, Caty shares personal insights, industry observations, and humorous anecdotes. With a focus on how technology is reshaping our consumption habits, she offers a balanced take on what we might gain—and lose—in the process.
Key Topics:
- The emotional shortcomings of AI in creative storytelling
- Clever applications of AI in entertainment and marketing
- The importance of human connection and shared experiences in the digital age
- The shift from communal to individual content consumption
- Reflections on her career at CW and the value of long-term creative teams
- The decline of monoculture and the rise of fragmented content consumption
- Who won the streaming wars and what’s next for entertainment platforms
- The allure of reality TV and the human stories that keep audiences hooked
Quotes:
- On AI and storytelling: "Any story I've read written by AI makes me want to KMS. It’s uncanny—it just doesn’t emotionally resonate."
- On human connection: "I need to feel the energy of other humans in my life. Zoom is great, but it’s not the same as sitting with someone in person."
- On the evolution of entertainment: "The future of entertainment is robust but far less communal than it used to be. The monoculture is gone."
- On her work philosophy: "I love being with people, but I don’t think doing my job well depends on being in the same room. That’s just capitalism trying to justify rent."
- On AI’s potential in entertainment: "There’s fun, clever applications like yassifying Lord of the Rings or using AI to predict the next moves in a podcast episode, but it’s not replacing human creativity."
- On communal viewing experiences: "I remember watching Melrose Place with friends, and when a shocking moment happened, you could hear people screaming across the city. That doesn’t happen anymore."
- On the next battle in entertainment: "If Netflix won the streaming wars, what’s the next war? Is it short-form content like TikTok—or has YouTube already won that too?"
