It’s a war of machines and technology at the NAB and BEA. “Will media survive?”

It’s a war of machines and technology at the NAB and BEA.  “Will media survive?”

By Jack Pagano
jack@thetampapost.com

Las Vegas, NV- America loves stars- athletes, politicians, television and movie stars.   At the 2024 National Association of Broadcasters-NAB and Broadcast Education Association-BEA convention in Las Vegas, a new star was born and it was not human.  Ameca, the AI-powered humanoid got all the buzz and oxygen. A humanoid machine full of technology that could be revolutionary or it could be the demise of the media world as we know it.

National Association of Broadcasters President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt is perplexed about the future.  He knows we must move forward with optimism but with humanoids, and technology controlling the airwaves?  LeGeyt says with caution, “This is not an easy time for media.  We are at the crossroads of media and artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence has arrived and there’s no going back.”

NAB’s 2024 main attraction was Ameca (left) and Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig (right) in a rapid-fire Q/A. Will the media world, especially news embrace a future with technology/humanoids? 14 April 24 (photo by Jack Pagano)

In an easy-going spirited, soothing voice,  Ameca provided a Futuri study that demonstrated audiences are open to “openness” to human-AI collaboration.  The study said, 1 in 5 people in the US believe they already listen to a radio station that is using AI. And, nearly half of TV (49%) news viewers believe they’ve already seen AI on the air in the form of humans delivering news or information that was generated using AI.

NAB 2024.  Ameca (left), Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig (center) talking with NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt (right) about news/disinformation. Can AI help in alleviating disinformation? 14 April 24 (photo by Jack Pagano)

Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig is Ameca’s sidekick.  A Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Las Vegas nightclub combo.  Ameca led the way taking Anstandig’s questions and answering quickly with humor and insightfulness.  The NAB media crowd loved it but at the same time wondered and pondered about the ramifications of a media world potentially controlled by machines and technology.  On the face of it all, broadcasters especially news journalists are not warm and fuzzy about it, nor are educators.  LeGeyt didn’t hold back saying the jury is still out when it comes to disinformation and how to combat it.  “We don’t want to fall victim to TikTok disinformation.”

NAB 2024.  Ameca and Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig meet the press at NAB’s press room. The press presented many questions about the future of technology, disinformation, and news reporting.  15 April 24 (photo by Jack Pagano)

As Ameca and Anstandig were making the rounds through the convention center, the word on the street, “Can this AI technology work for the good of the business?” A question 61,000 thousand and 1,300 exhibitors came to be answered at the Vegas Convention Center.  In its heyday two decades ago, the NAB had more than 120,000 walk the convention center.

In the west hall, the Broadcast Education Association-BEA presented a mecca of classes, professional development seminars, and awards for educators and students.  Broadcast educators are also at the crossroads of educating future broadcasters and social media presenters.

Training and teaching the Gen Z generation is a new frontier and has its challenges.  Big challenges include work ethic, personal time off, and quality of life issues. Georgia Southern University Associate Professor Dean Cummings says, “We’re learning a lot from other educators at the BEA/NAB, and that will help me when I return to Georgia.” Mercyhurst Associate Professor of Communication Brian Sheridan agrees with Cummings and mentions, “It’s our job to teach Gen Zer’s the right stuff with the right attitude so they become the future broadcast, social media leaders.”

NAB/BEA 2024.  Mercyhurst University Assistant Professor of Communication Brian Sheridan talking about the history of broadcasting and Walter Cronkite.  13 April 24 (photo by Jack Pagano)

The NAB/BEA theme stays the same each year: media professionals and educators come to Las Vegas to observe, buy, sell, educate, seek out programming, and connect. What happens in Vegas will not stay in Vegas.

NAB 2024.  On the exhibit floor View Technologies and MRM Motion Control showcase the “unreal ride” that allows convention goers to take a ride without moving an inch.  This technology is one tool on the cutting edge of technology. 14 April 24 (photo by Jack Pagano)

The future of human genius is on the line and the NAB/BEA hopes the knowledge received at the convention will translate into success.  Perhaps machines, technology, human intellect, and excitement will provide the gateway to that success.  The broadcast media business is changing rapidly and we all know change is hard.

Jack Pagano is a retired Army field grade officer with many decades of Information Operations experience and currently working remotely in the USA as COO/Strategist for one of Afghanistan’s biggest Radio/TV networks.  His current mission is getting out Afghan journalists he trained, and mentored who are stuck, stranded under the Sharia-driven Taliban.