What does it take to create something the world has never seen before?

In this final episode of Artful Intelligence, Reid Hoffman and Chris McLeod explore what it takes to spark a creative revolution with filmmaker Paul Trillo. Using OpenAI’s groundbreaking AI video generator, Sora, Paul directed the world’s first fully AI-generated music video. 

After gaining early access to Sora, Paul faced a massive creative challenge: How could he use an AI tool known for surreal, dream-like visuals to craft a music video that felt emotionally real? The answer came from embracing AI’s quirks—its strange hallucinations, its unpredictable transformations—and writing prompts like poetic scripts to guide the machine’s creative output.

Join us as Paul reveals how he turned an experimental AI model into an award-winning music video—and how creators everywhere can harness emerging tech to redefine what’s possible in art.

Time Stamps:

Part 1: To Create a Paradigm Shift with AI, Lean Into Its Constraints

07:25 - Paul Trillo discovers OpenAI’s AI video generator, Sora

09:46 - Navigating early uncertainty about AI’s impact on filmmaking

12:09 - Directing under creative constraints during COVID with The Shins’ “The Great Divide”

16:57 - Making emotionally resonant art despite technological limits

19:09 - Reid: What advice would you give someone running into constraints with AI tools?

Part 2: Paradigm Shifts Often Come from Reviving Old, Impossible Ideas

23:01 - Paul’s early experiments with Sora push AI video limits

24:34 - Resurrecting old creative concepts from his “Graveyard of Ideas”

25:59 - Inspired by Carl Sagan’s “Golden Record” and its sci-fi storytelling potential

28:49 - Creating a surreal AI-generated trailer blending historical and futuristic imagery

30:21 - Revisiting a decade-old “infinite zoom” concept for a music video

35:05 - Reid: How do paradigm shifts in AI go beyond just replicating older tech?

Part 3: Excavating Right at the Edge of What’s Possible Today

37:45 - Writing “alchemy-like” prompts to guide AI’s hallucinations

40:19 - Blending AI’s surreal misremembered details into an emotional story

42:36 - Generating 700 videos and 320 minutes of AI footage for the music video

44:56 - Reid: What kind of impossible ideas might AI make possible?

Links:

“The Hardest Part” Music Video by Washed Out. Directed by Paul Trillo:

https://vimeo.com/941713443

“The Golden Record” by Paul Trillo:

https://vimeo.com/927400626

“The Great Divide” by The Shins. Directed by Paul Trillo:

https://vimeo.com/461473136

Infinite Zoom in Manhattan:

https://vimeo.com/paultrillo

Paul Trillo on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/paultrillo

Will Smith eating Spaghetti (example of early AI video generation): 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQr4Xklqzw8

Reid AI:

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/reidhoffman_the-nobel-prize-award-ceremony-took-place-activity-7272418124639928320-ZyMn/ 

Show Description:

Artful Intelligence explores the thrilling intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Chris McLeod, this mini-series dives into the stories of groundbreaking artists using AI to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Each episode showcases how human ingenuity and machine learning collaborate to create the extraordinary. With thought-provoking contributions from Reid Hoffman, Artful Intelligence asks bold questions about the future of creativity: Can AI amplify human expression? How do we ensure it empowers rather than replaces us?

How can you shape the future with AI to create the world you want to live in?

Reid Hoffman and Chris McLeod explore this question with Elise Swopes, a trailblazing visual artist and educator blending AI with photography. Currently an evangelist for Adobe, Elise has been a creative force since the early days of Instagram, crafting surreal visuals for brands such as Adidas, McDonald’s, Casamigos, and Sony. But her journey hasn’t been without challenges. From online harassment to personal struggles, she’s faced adversity with resilience, using her art to shape a brighter, more inclusive future.

Join us as we traverse her path—while Reid reflects on AI’s evolving role in fostering creativity and meaningful human expression. Can AI ever replace human style, or will the future of art always require a human touch?

Time Stamps:

02:14 - Chris McLeod intros the series

Part 1: Shape Your Tools Because They Will Shape You and Your Future

07:07 - How Elise discovered AI and overcame early backlash

09:26 - Building websites and creating digital art as a kid

11:26 - Teaching creativity online and the power of sharing knowledge

17:03 - Reid: How can we foster more constructive conversations about AI?

Part 2: The Right Networks Will Amplify Your Voice Without Losing It

17:13 - Using AI tools to redefine creative possibilities

19:29 - Elise’s journey from public school to creative entrepreneurship

21:26 - Brand collaborations with Nike, McDonald’s, and Casamigos

23:36 - Navigating higher education on her own terms

25:12 - Reid: What would a “better future with AI” look like for artists?

Part 3: Taste and Style Are Your Competitive Advantage in Shaping the Era of AI

27:50 - How artists can shape AI’s future through experimentation

31:31 - Elise’s creative process with Adobe Firefly and AI-generated art

33:52 - Reid: Could AI make human artistic style obsolete?

41:16 - Elise reflects on personal growth and creative freedom

Links:

Swopes’ Website:

https://www.swopes.info/

Swopes on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/swopes

Swopes AI piece discussed in the episode:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5D0rFJOEzf/?igsh=MWgwNDU1cms1a3I2

Swopes’ TEDx Talk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joWNKJlf8N0

Show Description:

Artful Intelligence explores the thrilling intersection of creativity and artificial intelligence. Hosted by Chris McLeod, this mini-series dives into the stories of groundbreaking artists using AI to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Each episode showcases how human ingenuity and machine learning collaborate to create the extraordinary. With thought-provoking contributions from Reid Hoffman, Artful Intelligence asks bold questions about the future of creativity: Can AI amplify human expression? How do we ensure it empowers rather than replaces us?

What if you could create the impossible with AI?

In this debut episode of Artful Intelligence, Chris McLeod introduces us to Montreal-based filmmaker Malick Lombion, whose groundbreaking technique, Hyperlapse X AI, is redefining video art. Malick combines hyperlapse cinematography with cutting-edge AI tools like DALL-E to compress time, space, and reality into surreal and mesmerizing visuals.

Malick pushed AI to its creative limits, proving that human ingenuity and machine learning can work in tandem to unlock new dimensions of art. Reid Hoffman and Chris explore what it takes to innovate at this level: the right partnerships, a willingness to fail publicly, and a commitment to going all in.

Discover how Malick’s work inspired a new wave of video creators—and what it says about the future of creativity in an AI-driven world.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Time Stamps:

Introduction

00:01 – Artful Intelligence introduction.

02:36 – Chris and Reid discuss the central question: Can AI amplify human creativity?

04:08 – A brief history of cinematic breakthroughs, from Georges Méliès to hyperlapse.

08:13 – Malick explains Hyperlapse x AI.

Part 1: The Right Humans Are Required

10:01 – Malick discovers DALL-E 2 and its potential for groundbreaking visuals.

10:55 – Malick teams up with Manuel Sainsily to create Hyperlapse x AI.

12:26 – A long and tedious process. 

13:35 – Reid Hoffman on the value of diverse collaborators in AI innovation.

Part 2: Plan on Failure in a Public Way

18:39 – Malick gets an offer to work with Insta360.

20:45 – Public experimentation on Instagram leads Malick to hyperlapse videos.

23:08 – Trial and error with a 10-foot selfie stick.

26:39 – Reid Hoffman on iterative deployment and learning from failure.

Part 3: Once You Know Where You’re Going, Go All In

31:26 – Malick begins transforming his 360 footage into a Hyperlapse x AI video.

32:16 – Malick moves from Guadeloupe to Montreal, fully committing to his passion for video creation.

37:09 – Malick completes his breakthrough video.

40:33 – Malick’s Hyperlapse x AI video goes viral.

Outro

49:19 – Chris reflects on Malick’s journey and previews the next episode in the series.

Links:

Malick Lombion’s Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/malick.fr?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

Malick’s Hyperlapse x AI video with the Insta360 camera

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiPyY1VAv6I/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

An updated version of Malick’s and Manuel Sainsily’s first Hyperlapse x AI video

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChNyS6iAEA8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Would the world be a better place if we all paused to enjoy a square of sustainably-sourced craft chocolate every day? In honor of the Thanksgiving season, Reid and Aria treat Possible listeners to a discussion about chocolate, flavor, and sustainability. Joining them is Spencer Hyman, whose company, Cocoa Runners, sells craft chocolates from sustainability-minded artisan makers around the world. He gets into the difference between flavor and taste, along with the future of personalized nutrition and the art of savoring everything from chocolate to friendship. 

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

2:33 - Hellos and intros

4:20 - Spencer’s journey into the world of chocolate

6:25 - The language of flavor

8:01 - How AI could impact taste

10:23 - Inflection’s Pi describes flavors in creative ways

13:03 - Leading a sustainable business that combines capital and social good

15:17 - Making chocolate more social

16:08 - Why chocolate is water-intensive 

18:32 - Waves of culinary trends and innovations 

22:17 - Midroll ad break

22:24 - Can technology help us better savor food?

25:14 - The next potential innovations in the food industry

28:07 - Why the order you eat things in matters

30:50 - Building meaningful connection via chocolate 

34:14 - A conversation with Spencer’s daughter about chocolate and relationship-building

38:18 - Rapid-fire questions

Following an inspiring conversation with JusticeText co-founder Devshi Mehrotra, Aria asks Reid about other opportunities for AI to support public infrastructure. Plus, Reid discusses the state of venture funding and OpenAI’s $6.6 billion round. 

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

America’s criminal justice system relies on public defenders to represent anyone without access to a private attorney. But public defenders are chronically under-resourced and overburdened with caseloads. Can technology help lessen that load and, in effect, make the criminal justice system more just? This week’s guest, Devshi Mehrotra, says yes. Devshi is co-founder and CEO of JusticeText, a startup developing AI software to help lawyers search and review case material more efficiently and enhance police accountability. She joins Reid and Aria to talk about JusticeText’s offerings and opportunities, along with public-private partnerships and local governments’ evolving attitudes toward AI and innovation. Plus, a public defender shares her experience using JusticeText and Devshi demos the platform. 

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

3:10 - Hellos and intros

6:47 - What inspired the creation of JusticeText

10:38 - What America’s public defenders are up against

12:35 - How JusticeText can help

14:32 - On being a for-profit company 

18:11 - Creating a new market

20:47 - JusticeText’s customer base 

23:33 - Midroll 

23:41 - A testimony from a public defender using the platform

24:40 - Requests for new features

25:58 - JusticeText demo

28:50 - How AI is supporting, not replacing, public defenders’ jobs

30:23 - The intersection of government and technology

32:53 - How local governments are thinking about AI

34:59 - Other technologies that could improve the justice system

37:28 - What entrepreneurial advice Devshi would give her younger self 

38:43 - The future of JusticeText 

40:42 - Rapid-fire questions

After last week’s wide-ranging discussion with Bill Gates, Aria asks Reid for his take on the work of this philanthropic luminary. Plus, Reid gives a three-part answer to the technology developments he thinks are going to have broad and beneficial applications across many fields.

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/

In this episode of Remarkable People, join host Guy Kawasaki for an illuminating conversation with Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and partner at Greylock. Together, they explore entrepreneurship, politics, and artificial intelligence, offering unique insights into blitzscaling, the future of democracy, and how games shaped his strategic thinking. Hoffman shares candid views on Silicon Valley dynamics, the impact of extreme wealth, and his optimistic vision for AI's role in society. Discover how this tech pioneer navigates the intersection of technology, business, and civic responsibility.

Ahead of the U.S. presidential election, we’re bringing you a bonus episode from Reid's Masters of Scale podcast. A few weeks ago, Reid sat down with former President Bill Clinton at the Masters of Scale Summit to talk about the current state of American democracy, polarization, and what’s at stake in this election. Their full, unedited stage conversation is presented in this episode. To hear more conversations like these from Reid Hoffman, subscribe to Masters of Scale wherever you get your podcasts: https://mastersofscale.com/follow 

How many lives will be saved with the help of AI over the next decade?

Reid and Aria sat down with Bill Gates to discuss his main areas of focus: climate change, energy, global health, and education—and how AI will help transform each of them. Taking a bird’s-eye view of society’s challenges, it’s easy to give in to pessimism. But as one of the most influential people in the world, Bill Gates has a unique perspective on how far humanity has come and what our potential—and timelines—for meaningful change really look like. He gets granular on everything from cows (5% of global emissions) to disease reduction and eradication (Guinea worm disease). At each turn, he has data at his fingertips to ground his beliefs. So, what current set of innovations is Bill most excited about? And what is realistically on the horizon for AI, climate change, energy, global health, and education?

For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/ 

Topics:

03:18 - Hellos and intros

03:24 - Projects Bill is most excited about

05:46 - Bill’s recent Netflix series

08:14 - Technology that will change what’s possible

10:41 - Solutions for malnutrition

12:09 - Cow-based solutions for climate change and nutrition

17:06 - What Bill is working toward for climate change

19:19 - Viable alternative energy sources

23:80 - What will make solar work?

26:47 - Nuclear fission and fusion

29:30 - How AI will help mitigate climate change

32:38 - What to focus on in global health

37:24 - AI and drug discovery

39:52 - What else will AI unlock in public health?

42:28 - Personalized medicine: is it worth it?

44:02 - Conditions on the ground in the poorest countries

47:29 - AI in education

51:24 - Khanmigo and early GPT-4

54:59 - Non-tech levers for change in education

56:34 - What would Bill ask someone from 2100?

58:25 - AI in 3-5 years, and what comes next for work

01:03:05 - Rapid-fire Questions

Select mentions: 

The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Better_Angels_of_Our_Nature 

What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xxhYr4gbQE 

Bill Gates Visits First Avenue School: Commends Innovative Use of Technology

https://www.nps.k12.nj.us/schools/first-avenue-school/bill-gates-visits-first-avenue-school-commends-innovative-use-of-technology/ 

Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Whether it's Inflection’s Pi, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or other AI tools, each episode will use AI to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.