At CES, entertainment heavyweights and creators intensify debate over AI and next‑gen tech

At CES 2026, entertainment took a prominent turn as studios, tech firms and digital creators weighed how artificial intelligence will reshape film, advertising and the creator economy. Panelists argued that AI should augment rather than replace human talent, with Leonardo.ai’s Dwayne Koh and Adobe executive Hannah Elsakr casting new tools as accelerants for “high creativity.” The discussion followed Hollywood’s yearlong AI anxiety, including controversy over an “AI actor” and ongoing copyright concerns. Variety’s Entertainment Summit was set to feature leaders from Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery, underscoring the sector’s strategic stakes. On the show floor, TVs, AI-enabled audio gear and novel instruments targeted at-home entertainment, while Amazon introduced Alexa.com with personalized viewing recommendations and scene-jump search—signals that Big Tech intends to further fuse AI with consumer media habits.

Read more