OpenArt, AI Influencers & the Future of Creative Storytelling

What happens when AI can generate a reality show, create a digital influencer, or produce Pixar-level visuals with just a few people behind the scenes? In this episode, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard sit down with Coco Mao, co-founder and CEO of OpenArt, a generative AI platform focused on visual storytelling. From AI influencers to AI-generated reality TV, Coco explains how artificial intelligence is reshaping the creative industry — and why she believes it’s empowering creators rather than replacing them. The conversation explores Hollywood’s concerns, AI influencers, watermarking, deepfakes, copyright challenges, and the bold prediction that much of future social media content may be AI-generated. Episode Timestamps • 00:00 – Welcome & intro (yes, AI helped write it) • 01:50 – Meet Coco Mao & the rise of OpenArt • 03:00 – The mission: democratizing visual storytelling • 04:15 – Hollywood’s fear of AI (and who’s secretly using it) • 07:00 – Coco’s journey: from Google Photos to startup founder • 09:30 – Where OpenArt fits in the AI ecosystem (models vs. applications) • 12:00 – “Uber for storytelling” — simplifying AI video creation • 14:15 – AI singers & creative empowerment (Zinnia Monet example) • 17:20 – AI influencers: opportunity or manipulation? • 19:40 – The Lil Miquela ethical gray area • 21:50 – Realism, disclosure & watermarking AI content • 22:35 – Inside Bot House: OpenArt’s AI-generated reality show • 29:05 – The accidental Jeff Bridges dilemma & copyright detection • 31:30 – Deepfakes, guardrails & protecting real people • 36:00 – Who decides AI’s future? (Hint: consumers) • 37:45 – Actors selling their likeness & AI contracts • 38:30 – How AI changes production timelines • 40:20 – What’s next for OpenArt: AI influencers & music videos • 41:45 – Bold prediction: Will most social content be AI-generated? • 43:30 – Final thoughts: AI doesn’t replace the human behind the story Key Takeaways • AI can dramatically lower the barrier to high-quality video production. • Creative vision still starts with humans — AI executes. • Disclosure and watermarking may be essential as realism increases. • AI could extend creators’ reach rather than replace them. • Audiences will ultimately decide what succeeds. About the Guest Coco Mao is the co-founder and CEO of OpenArt. A former Google product leader, she is building tools designed to make cinematic storytelling accessible to anyone with an idea. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices