Patty McCord, the former chief talent officer at Netflix, recently shared her visionary thoughts on how artificial intelligence will affect the arts. She elaborated on this theme when she appeared on an episode of the Euronews Business podcast mini-series “My Wildest Prediction.” Joined by fellow guest Johan Breton, a video and sound editor, McCord expressed her optimism about the role of technology in enhancing creativity across various sectors.
In her conversation with podcast host Tom Goodwin, McCord pointed to her deep background in the film and music industries. This background shapes her narrative on new and emerging technologies in a big way. Tanya doesn’t fear AI—she’s leaning into it. To her, it’s a chance to inspire imagination in all of us, regardless of how we earn a living.
Embracing Change
This is a guy who is not shy about making big, splashy claims. “My wildest prediction is that AI won’t be the big scary thing that we think,” she stated during the podcast. This outlook is a product of her conviction that technology can be a powerful enabler of innovation, not an impediment to it.
Over her career, McCord witnessed, first hand, how biases within organizations stifle potential. She noted, “There was an internal bias that said: ‘these people without skills and training won’t be able to do it’ but the truth is that they can, just nobody ever asked them to.” Her reflections drive home how important it is to get diverse perspectives into increasingly tech-assisted creative processes.
The Role of Technology in Creativity
McCord promotes understanding technology as a tool to deepen artistic experience. She remarked, “I think there’s a way that technology helps us release creativity in everybody, no matter their job.” This line is illustrative of her focus on creating a world in which AI makes positive impacts in every sector—including the artistic—that she so often mentions.
Though she expresses concern about the risks posed by new technologies in the wrong hands, McCord equally stresses the need for these technologies to be deployed responsibly. She mentioned the fear surrounding the capabilities of AI, stating, “There’s a fear that the next generation will do something evil with it.” This heightened sense of awareness is a testament to her dedication to ensuring that all technology does good.
Protecting Future Generations
One of the most important parts of McCord’s conversation focuses on the role of society as the arbiter to safeguard children from untested or even dangerous technologies. She believes that during the first five to ten years of introducing new technology, efforts should focus on safeguarding young users. This proactive approach is intended to address potential risks, while promoting innovation and exploration at the same time.
McCord stated, “We did a terrible job of vocationally training the people who used to do the work to be the people who can maintain and sustain the robotics.” Her experience points to a new and pressing demand for education and training that can keep pace with technological innovation. Not only does this prepare the next generation to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
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