A Discussion on AI From the Creator’s Perspective

Kelly Needleman is the global outreach coordinator for the Tisch Graduate Student Organization. In this role Kelly finds ways to unite and engage graduate students. He takes the lead on virtual and in-person events, finds ways to nurture community among students regardless of geographic location, and initiates cross-campus collaborations.

Earlier this semester Kelly helped organize “The Creator in the Age of AI: How to Use AI Ethically” at Tisch’s campus in Brooklyn. This event included experts from education, creators, and the AI industries to discuss responsible AI use and how to preserve originality and deeper value in creations. The event was co-hosted by Runway ML, the Tisch Graduate Student Organization, and NYU Shanghai Student Council.
 

AI is a topic discussed in New Technologies, one of the elective courses in the MA Media Producing program and this panel looked at AI from the creator’s perspective. Kelly said, “The discussion made it clear that people are still trying to make sense of what AI actually is for us as filmmakers. There’s a lot of excitement and a lot of uncertainty, but underneath that, a real commitment to keeping creative work grounded in human intention. They spent time talking about transparency, ownership, and the responsibility we have to understand the tools we’re using.”

As a director and producer, Kelly believes that AI can support the process but it can’t replace the lived experience or the instincts that shape a story. He said, “It’s great for generating references or speeding up early idea work, but the heart of a film still comes from a person’s point of view. Protecting creatives means protecting that point of view while still staying open to new tools.”
 

Kelly was excited to have Maria Miles, ESQ at the event to offer her perspectives around authorship and protection for creatives. Maria Miles is faculty for Entertainment Business Law, one of the core courses in the Media Producing Program.