CAA Metaverse Officer Joanna Popper On Evolving AI Technology Like Deepfakes: ‘The Role of The Actor Is Still Very Important’

deadline.com:

Ahead of her appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show this Thursday in Las Vegas, Deadline talked to CAA Chief Metaverse Officer Joanna Popper about preparing the organization and its clients to be metaverse ready, and the significance of the agency’s recent investment (through Connect Ventures, an investment partnership with New Enterprise Associates) in Deep Voodoo, the artificial intelligence startup formed by Trey Parker and Matt Stone. “AI technology is here and moving fast, and will only move faster,” Popper tells Deadline. “It is important for entertainment executives to understand this technology and its potential.” DEADLINE Can you briefly explain your role as chief metaverse officer? JOANNA POPPER I see the metaverse as the future state, or the next evolution of the internet.

This role helps our company and our clients get ready to maximize these opportunities. DEADLINE Why should your clients be open to the opportunities in the metaverse?  POPPER Today, there are opportunities to build new creative IP, to connect with audiences and community, or create a brand and product awareness or connect offline and online experiences to build engagement and drive revenue.

I’ll give a couple of examples. Anthony Hopkins is an artist. It’s his hobby, the way that he relaxes. So he spent about nine months working with a company called Orange Comet to create beautiful NFTs.

He spent months and months looking into the field, understanding it, and connecting with other big collectors. He dropped the NFTs after engaging with the community and building with Orange Comet for months.