The Cultural Algorithm

Experience Spherexgreenlight™ at NAB 2023The first version of Spherexgreenlight™ was and still is, the only artificial intelligence/machine learning technology available to analyze video content for cultural and regulatory compliance and provide accurate age ratings for original or catalog content worldwide. Before that, content intended for international release underwent a protracted, expensive trial-and-error investigation process to identify necessary edits to achieve regulatory and market compliance. Spherexgreenlight 's expert-in-the-loop AI/ML technology reduced that time to days at a fraction of the cost.

The Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry is complex, and many factors can impact content's ability to find an audience. Writing and producing an engaging story are only two elements of a profitable title release.

Cedar Door Bar & Grill, 201 Brazos Street, Austin, TXMarch 10th, 11:20 AMIt's nearly impossible to go to any media source without seeing someone discussing Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI, and how good or bad it will be for the Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry.

The French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote in 1849 , "the more things change, the more they stay the same." Writing about the social changes occurring in France at the time, his point was that nothing changes without a fundamental shift in knowledge and thinking.

To operate successfully in a country, content providers and streaming platforms must comply with local regulations and perceive cultural sensitivities. This entails everything from editing prohibited content and assigning correct age ratings to accurately portraying religions and sub-cultures. With nearly 200 countries worldwide, it's almost impossible for any content creator to know what is or is not prohibited in certain countries. Cultural competence is crucial, and that's where Spherex is unmatched. We know how to handle all these issues and get them right the first time to reduce cost, mitigate risk, and accelerate time-to-market.

Hardly a day goes by without someone talking about Artificial Intelligence (AI), and apps like ChatGPT , DALL-E , Flawless , Midjourney , Google Bard , or other generative AI technologies are severe threats to original film and TV content creation. Every major news outlet has done stories on AI's potential detriment to the industry.

Spherex's patented Spherexgreenlight™ AI/ML content analysis technology provides frame-level cultural feedback to content creators, distributors, and platforms so that titles can be adequately prepared for distribution to any country worldwide without regulatory or brand risk. Creators can use this technology at any stage of production to be alerted to events within the title that audiences or regulators may find objectionable. They can then decide how to address those issues before public release.

How to respond to budget cuts and better compete in the global marketplaceDespite governmental and economist statements to the contrary, a review of content-buying companies' Q4 earnings , news reports , think tank analyses , and layoffs suggest that many in the Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry believe a recession is already upon us. Amazon , AMC , Roku , DirecTV, Warner Brothers , and others have responded to the threat by announcing job, budget, and production cuts.

It is essential to look past the obvious to find what mattersAwards season is upon us, and no form of media is immune from the onslaught of hype intended to promote the nominees. From billboards and cab banners to newspapers and magazines to TV and radio to websites and social media ads, no stone is left unturned n an effort to sway consumers that a nominated film is worth watching. It leaves one wondering whether the effort is worth the expense. It clearly is for those who win, but one oft-overlooked aspect of awards season is how it highlights the breadth, complexity, and variety of creative people working behind the camera in an industry the world relies upon for entertainment every year.