8. Dr. Ben Samuel: Sculpting the Possibility Space

Dr. Ben Samuel and I talk his performances on Hulu and Netflix, how he is crafting the future of storytelling by having AI and humans build worlds together.

Watch for 8B's bonus episode  where we dive into the difference between styles of AI generation of and the shifts we need to keep AI storytelling a diverse and inclusive landscape.

Dr. Ben Samuel is an actor, improvisor, game designer and developer, and a recently tenured assistant professor of Computer Science at the University of New Orleans.  As an actor, Ben starred in Hulu's first scripted series, "Battleground" where the New York Times said he was the best reason to watch the show.  He was a breakout audience favorite in the reality show "Dating Around." The AP said he was adored and both The Times and Wired praise his likability and compare him to Danielle Radcliffe as "Harry Potter."

In his work as an interactive game designer, Ben is building the platorms that will shape the future of storytelling.  His game Bad News is an AI social simulation blended with live improvised performance. He created the social physics engine Ensemble. His social simulation game Prom Week made  Richard Evans, the AI lead of Sims 3s say the "characters in Prom Week are capable of doing things that Sims couldn't even dream of."

And his current project Bad News combines AI social simulation and world generation with live improvised interaction. His team has presented Bad News at SlamDance film Festival, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, toured it internationally, and they won the Audience Choice Award at Indicade Game Festival, one of the largest independent gaming festivals.

Follow:
IG: @Progresspian | IMDB | LinkedIn
NY Times Article on him in Hulu's "Battleground"
Bad News game
"Dating Around" AP Interview
"Prom Week" game
Vespace
Comme il Faut
Expressive Intelligence Studio,
Ben's PhD advisors Michael Mateas and Noah Wardrip-Fruin
Creator's Ch

Creator's Cafe with Jessica Payne of Kika Labs

Host Jessica Payne of Kika Labs breaks down the subtle and the sublime of the creative process with inspiring artists at the Creator's Cafe.

Find out more info on the show and host Jessica Payne.
Offering creative strategy, performance coaching, and more! www.kikalabs.com

More info and resources at   | www.kikalabs.com
Watch the video podcast on YouTube | YouTube Creator's Cafe Podcast Playlist
Follow the Show | @creatorscafebykikalabs
Facebook Group | Creator's Cafe by Kika Labs
Transcripts and YouTube Links at |  www.kikalabs.com/creators-cafe-shownotes

Theme Music
Our theme music is composed and performed by Kyle deTarnowsky.
www.kyledetarnowskymusic.com