Thursday, February 6, 2025

Internet Changed Distribution; Generative AI Changes Content Creation

While digital transformation (internet plus digital content) mostly changed distribution and consumption patterns, generative AI is transforming the actual creation process as well. Where the shift to digital media eliminated geographic barriers and distribution costs, AI might have more impact in automating content curation and creation. 


Where digital media and the internet allowed more people to become content creators, AI could start to displace some of the value of such roles. 


What remains to be seen are the various ways business models and consumer behavior will change. Digital media and the internet meant “regular people” could create and publish content. And while that might not have directly disrupted “legacy media,” is has created social media, “influencers” and user-generated content as platforms for business models. 


Functions

Digital/Internet Disruption

AI Disruption

Content Creation

More content creation tools

Autonomous content generation with minimal human input

Distribution

Eliminated physical distribution constraints; enabled direct-to-consumer publishing

Could integrate creation and distribution (personalized content on demand)

Business Models

Shifted from ownership to renting; reduced unit costs; created ad-supported models

May enable "personal content engines" with ad or subscription revenue models

Professional Impact

Disrupted traditional gatekeepers (publishers, labels); created new creator economy

May automate certain creative roles

Quality Control

Variable quality

Similar challenges

Consumer Behavior

Shifted to on-demand consumption; increased content variety; shorter attention spans

Even more personalization

Creative Process

Digitized workflow; enabled remote collaboration

Could fundamentally change human-machine creative collaboration; may automate routine creative tasks

Economic Impact

Redistributed revenue from traditional to digital players

May further reduce content production costs

Market Structure

Led to new platforms

Could happen again

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