SoulScape 2026 — The Future of AI Filmmaking

In this episode, Claudine Wong and Lisa Bernard sit down with Keith Zhang — former Uber engineer turned AI filmmaker and founder of SoulScape — to explore a bold new vision for storytelling. From AI-generated films to 48-hour cinema hackathons, this conversation dives into the opportunities, fears, and big questions surrounding AI in creative industries. Is AI democratizing filmmaking… or disrupting it? And what happens to human creativity when anyone can make a movie in hours? Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome + Intro 01:24 — Meet Keith Zhang 03:18 — AI Opens the Door to New Creators 04:33 — The Coca-Cola AI Ad Debate 06:16 — Why AI Feels Different 08:23 — The Moment That Changed Everything 12:30 — From Experiment to Mission 15:03 — The Big Controversy: Job Disruption 17:01 — What is SoulScape? 19:41 — Will AI Movies Replace Hollywood? 25:09 — Inside SoulScape 2026 26:30 — Hollywood Is Paying Attention 28:05 — Who Are the Creators? 29:33 — How AI Films Are Made 32:05 — AI Is Moving FAST 32:59 — Why a Nonprofit? 35:52 — Soul Over Slop 36:11 — Why San Francisco? 38:27 — What to Expect from SoulScape 2026 Key Takeaways • AI is lowering the barrier to entry for filmmaking. • The biggest tension is creative empowerment vs. job disruption. • We are in the messy middle where AI is visible and evolving quickly. • The future may be AI + human storytelling, not replacement. • Audiences will ultimately decide what succeeds. Notable Quotes "AI is creating creative equity." "We shouldn’t lose humanity just because we’re in the age of AI." "It’s not about the visuals — it’s about the story." "Every 3 months is a quality leap. Every 6 months is a generational leap." Connect With Us Claudine Wong: Instagram & Facebook: ClaudineWongKTVU TikTok: ClaudineKTVU YouTube: ClaudineWong Lisa Bernard: Instagram: @DemystifyAI Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices