Industry Titans Gather to Grapple with AI's Impact on Showbiz at CES 2026 Variety Entertainment Summit
The entertainment industry is abuzz with the latest technological advancements, but none more so than artificial intelligence (AI). As the traditional gatekeepers of Hollywood's content, showbiz leaders are convening at this year's Variety Entertainment Summit at CES 2026 to discuss the transformative power of AI on their business.
This two-day extravaganza promises to be an insightful journey into the world of emerging tech and its potential impact on entertainment. With a star-studded lineup that includes Disney president Rita Ferro, Hasbro licensing and entertainment head Kim Boyd, actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Simon Helberg, attendees can expect engaging conversations with industry heavyweights.
At the summit, panelists will grapple with the existential threat of AI, but many argue that it's just the latest wave in a long line of technological disruptors. Jon Liebman, chairman and CEO of Brillstein Entertainment Partners, points out that Hollywood has cried wolf numerous times about technology destroying its business, only to see growth and global distribution of content.
AI-powered platforms like Arcana will also be on hand, with co-founder and CEO Jonathan Yunger joining Breckin Meyer and Andrew Wallenstein for a conversation on AI storytelling. Liebman emphasizes the need to temper fear with reality: "The technology, when harnessed appropriately, has become a tool for what we now have, which is global distribution of content."
Beyond these discussions, attendees will also have access to an array of panels tackling pressing issues like the new business models, live sports content, and the creator economy in media and entertainment.
At the Variety Business of Creators Summit on January 8, industry leaders will dive deeper into topics such as the rise of creators on TV and the power of creator branding. Fireside chats with prominent figures like Evan Shapiro and Hamish McKenzie promise to add further insights to the conversation.
As showbiz leaders confront AI's influence, they'll undoubtedly face new challenges and opportunities for growth. With a dynamic lineup of speakers and industry experts at the forefront of the conversation, this year's Variety Entertainment Summit is sure to be an event not to be missed.
The entertainment industry is abuzz with the latest technological advancements, but none more so than artificial intelligence (AI). As the traditional gatekeepers of Hollywood's content, showbiz leaders are convening at this year's Variety Entertainment Summit at CES 2026 to discuss the transformative power of AI on their business.
This two-day extravaganza promises to be an insightful journey into the world of emerging tech and its potential impact on entertainment. With a star-studded lineup that includes Disney president Rita Ferro, Hasbro licensing and entertainment head Kim Boyd, actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Simon Helberg, attendees can expect engaging conversations with industry heavyweights.
At the summit, panelists will grapple with the existential threat of AI, but many argue that it's just the latest wave in a long line of technological disruptors. Jon Liebman, chairman and CEO of Brillstein Entertainment Partners, points out that Hollywood has cried wolf numerous times about technology destroying its business, only to see growth and global distribution of content.
AI-powered platforms like Arcana will also be on hand, with co-founder and CEO Jonathan Yunger joining Breckin Meyer and Andrew Wallenstein for a conversation on AI storytelling. Liebman emphasizes the need to temper fear with reality: "The technology, when harnessed appropriately, has become a tool for what we now have, which is global distribution of content."
Beyond these discussions, attendees will also have access to an array of panels tackling pressing issues like the new business models, live sports content, and the creator economy in media and entertainment.
At the Variety Business of Creators Summit on January 8, industry leaders will dive deeper into topics such as the rise of creators on TV and the power of creator branding. Fireside chats with prominent figures like Evan Shapiro and Hamish McKenzie promise to add further insights to the conversation.
As showbiz leaders confront AI's influence, they'll undoubtedly face new challenges and opportunities for growth. With a dynamic lineup of speakers and industry experts at the forefront of the conversation, this year's Variety Entertainment Summit is sure to be an event not to be missed.
I mean, I know some people are worried about it replacing jobs or whatever, but like Jon Liebman said, we've been through that before and Hollywood still kicks butt 
. And can you imagine having AI-powered platforms creating content that's way more fire than what humans could ever come up with? 
Arcana is gonna be huge! But seriously though, it's all about finding ways to work together with the tech, not against it 
. And let's be real, who doesn't want to see Evan Shapiro in person? 
when it comes to AI adoption in showbiz. i mean, we all know how quickly tech changes hands and leaves those who ain't adaptin' behind 
it was like, how will we monetize this new wave of creators? anyway, i think its cool they're havin a conversation about AI's impact on showbiz, but also need to acknowledge the struggles of traditional studios trying to adapt. i mean, remember when netflix first started and everyone was all "oh no, piracy!" now it's like "hey, we got this streaming thing figured out" 
what's next? AI-generated content? would that change how we experience entertainment altogether? 
. Will AI-powered platforms like Arcana be the new norm, or are we just seeing another wave of "disruptors" who'll make a big splash before fading away? 
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. But hey, if it can help out creators and get their content out there, then I'm all for it 
.
. But at the same time, it's crazy to think that Hollywood has been saying the same thing about technology threatening their business for decades 
. With all these big names coming together to discuss AI in showbiz, I'm hoping we'll get some real answers on how to navigate this new landscape 
. Maybe the key is finding ways to work with AI rather than against it 
?
. I mean, have you seen those AI movie trailers? Fire and ice, so deep... 
. Anyway, it's cool that the big players in entertainment are getting together to talk about this stuff. We've had these waves of tech changing things before, like VHS to DVDs to streaming... 
. And those creator economy panels? Can't wait to see what they come up with 
Also, live sports content is gonna be a thing with VR/AR, that's some next-level stuff! 
And I'm hyped to see the creator economy summit – finally, people getting paid for their passion & creativity 
. And what's with all the fireside chats? Can't we just have some real discussion about this stuff? 
Will they be able to compete with those big studios or will smaller guys get left behind? 
They're gonna talk about the pros and cons of using AI-powered platforms, but let's be real, it's all about embracing the tech and creating new opportunities 
! I mean, AI in showbiz? It's like, the future is now, right? 
But seriously, I think it's cool that the big players are getting together to talk about how to harness AI for good. We've seen how platforms like YouTube and TikTok have changed the game already.
Anyway, bring on CES 2026 and let's get this AI party started 
!
The industry needs to wake up and start having some real conversations about how this tech is gonna change the game, not just sit back and let it happen.