Deep Voodoo's Matt Stone: AI Will Enable New TV Content, Streamline Production
Deep Voodoo, founded by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, uses AI for synthetic media like de-aging and deepfakes in film and television production, prioritizing ethical licensing. Matt Stone states that AI will significantly benefit TV, envisioning new forms of content and more efficient production methods. The company, which raised $20 million, focuses on bespoke AI models built from licensed footage rather than web scraping.
Key Takeaways
- Deep Voodoo, founded by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, specializes in AI-driven synthetic media like de-aging and deepfakes for film and TV.
- Deep Voodoo builds bespoke AI models from licensed imagery, avoiding web scraping, and can take up to a month to produce a model from 300,000 images.
- Matt Stone envisions AI enabling "performance transfer," where actors film minimally on set and their performance is transferred to complex digital environments, potentially reducing location shooting costs.
- The company requires explicit authorization from actors or estates for likeness use and has turned down jobs lacking sufficient footage permissions.
- Stone believes AI will lead to the creation of new genres, such as weekly political deepfake shows, and could enhance existing productions like \"South Park.\"
Why It Matters
Matt Stone's perspective highlights a pragmatic, ethics-focused approach to generative AI in content creation, moving beyond broad speculation to specific applications like de-aging and performance transfer. This model of AI integration emphasizes licensed data and bespoke development, potentially setting a standard for responsible AI adoption in an industry grappling with IP concerns. The focus on efficiency and new creative avenues suggests a future where AI shifts production workflows, impacting traditional roles and financial models in television and film. Stakeholders should observe how Deep Voodoo's ethical framework for AI usage influences broader industry practices and potential union negotiations regarding digital likeness rights.
Additional Context
The discussion around AI in Hollywood continues to evolve, with key players emphasizing the need for ethical frameworks and clear guidelines. In April 2026, The Hollywood Reporter indicated that the WGA and SAG-AFTRA are negotiating new terms with studios over AI usage, particularly concerning generative AI's impact on writers' and actors' compensation and intellectual property (per The Hollywood Reporter, April 2026). Similarly, Variety reported in March 2026 that major studios are exploring hybrid production models that combine traditional filming with AI-driven visual effects, aiming to reduce costs and accelerate post-production timelines (per Variety, March 2026). This aligns with Deep Voodoo's focus on "performance transfer" capabilities, which could significantly alter location shooting logistics and budgets. Furthermore, a recent report from Deloitte in May 2026 highlighted that investments in AI tools for content creation are expected to rise by 25% in the next year, underscoring the industry's commitment to integrating advanced technologies, despite ongoing ethical debates (per Deloitte, May 2026). The emphasis on ethical licensing by companies like Deep Voodoo could become a critical differentiator in a market increasingly sensitive to data provenance and talent rights, influencing how other studios and tech providers develop their AI strategies. The legal implications of using and licensing AI-generated content remain a central concern, with some legal experts calling for clearer legislative guidance on digital likeness rights (per TechCrunch, June 2026).
Read full article at msn.com
Enjoy our coverage?
Add StreamingMeme as a preferred source on Google to see more of our streaming news at the top of your Search results.
Add as preferred source