This week I sat down with an exceptional group of panelists in front of a live studio audience to discuss the future of creative production and specifically the tension between artistry and tooling. In this moment where AI is being incorporated into every aspect of storytelling, does it matter what’s human made?

Our panel included designer and creative director Lucas Hearl, TikTok quantitative researcher Sonya Song, and filmmaker Ryan Beikert. Together we unpacked what’s actually changing across the creative industries right now. We discuss how AI tools are already showing up in real production workflows, whether generative systems risk homogenizing art, and what audiences really care about when they experience a story — how it was made, or simply how it feels.

About Sonya Song:

Sonya Song is an experienced quant researcher now at TikTok, analyzing AI trends and creative behavior. They include advertising, e-commerce, content marketing, influencers and creators, audience development, disinformation, and content moderation. Her research has appeared in the New York Times, USA Today, and Nieman Lab at Harvard, and she has been invited to talk around the world.

About Ryan Beickert:

Ryan Beickert is an award-winning creative strategist and founder at Rose Slice productions. Ryan combines his specialty in post-production with a thorough understanding of producing and directing, resulting in creative that understands the full picture. He acted as Head Storyteller, part filmmaker, and creative director at Warner Media's award-winning branded content studio Courageous landing his first Webby for his work on Coors Light and Great Big Story. Today Ryan is building a new modern studio that bridges the gap between film, tv, media, and experiential; partnered with entertainment industry leaders, he has taken on the helm as Head of Marketing for RCM Entertainment.

About Lucas Allen Hearl:

Lucas Allen Hearl is a classically trained designer turned ‘‘Multidisciplinary Creative Director’ who helped lead the AI Design of Ancestra. Founder of Lucas Allen Designs (Lad) a cross-disciplinary design practice based in Brooklyn, New York. They create visual narratives for brands by way of design, 3D, animation, artificial intelligence and experimentation. Through collaboration, creative strategy and exploration; Lad helps clients think about new perspectives while guiding them through the creative process to solve their unique challenges.

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