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How AI is Changing Computer Rendering

How AI is Changing Computer Rendering

RenderCon, Higgsfield, and AI in Animation

April 18, 2025

In partnership with

Still have some more NAB videos coming out, but so far these have been some of the most popular ones:

Beeble AI: Relight your video with their new, simple web app (we’ve been way ahead on Beeble, covering them over a year ago at last year’s show)
PIXBOOM: 1800 FPS Slow Motion Camera
Christie Digital Introduces Virtual Projection: The Cost-Saving Alternative to LED Walls (VP Land members got a sneak peek at this before NAB).
First Look: Foundry Creates End-to-End Virtual Production Pipeline with Nuke Stage
Lightcraft Jetset and Gaussian Splats: Moving Beyond Traditional Filmmaking

We have some excellent sponsors to help make these videos possible (thank you, Blackmagic, LucidLink, and Vu!)

But even with their support, it still doesn’t cover the full cost of what will end up being over 50 videos covering all sorts of new filmmaking tech from the show.

If you found any of our coverage helpful or insightful and would like to support us, please consider becoming a premium member of VP Land.

We’ve got benefits and exclusive content in the works, but the biggest reason to become a member is to help make videos (and newsletters and podcasts) like these possible.

Thank you! Now let’s dig into the future of rendering.

Joey

RenderCon 2025: Where Hollywood, AI, and GPU Rendering Converge

RenderCon 2025, the Render Network's inaugural in-person conference, brought together experts from entertainment, technology, and art on April 15th at Nya Studio in Hollywood to explore the intersection of GPU rendering, AI, and creative production.

The one-day event featured industry heavyweights including Ari Emanuel (WME/TKO), Richard Kerris (NVIDIA), Mike "Beeple" Winkelmann, Emad Mostaque (Stability AI), Rod Roddenberry (Star Trek), and Jules Urbach (OTOY/Render Network).

5 Key Takeaways

AI is rapidly becoming integral to film production workflows, enabling faster iteration and higher creative control through neural rendering and AI-assisted GPU rendering techniques. Jules Urbach emphasized how AI is not just a future possibility but already transforming real-world production pipelines.
The convergence of exascale GPU computing and AI is democratizing access to high-end rendering capabilities, allowing smaller studios and independent creators to compete with major players by leveraging decentralized GPU networks. This shift could reshape industry economics and creative possibilities.
Industry leaders from NVIDIA, Stability AI, and OTOY highlighted the importance of scalable GPU infrastructure as the foundation for next-generation creative tools, from virtual production to immersive media experiences. This infrastructure supports both rendering and AI model training at unprecedented scales.
RenderCon showcased practical applications and case studies where AI-driven rendering and real-time workflows are already reducing costs and accelerating production timelines, demonstrating tangible benefits beyond theoretical potential. These examples provide a roadmap for studios looking to adopt these technologies.
The event underscored a growing ecosystem around the Render Network that integrates decentralized GPU computing with AI, positioning it as a key platform for future content creation that blends traditional filmmaking with cutting-edge technology. This ecosystem aims to unify creative tools and workflows across disciplines.

Dive Deeper

Jules Urbach delivered a keynote on "The Future of Rendering" alongside Ari Emanuel, outlining how GPU rendering technologies are creating new possibilities for creators across entertainment industries
The "AI at the Frontier" panel featuring Urbach, Mostaque, and Kerris explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping creative workflows and enabling new forms of artistic expression

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Dimension Unveils AI Production Pipeline

UK virtual production studio Dimension has launched a new suite of AI tools designed to streamline content creation. The company claims its "end-to-end AI content production pipeline" reduces production time by two-thirds while maintaining creative control and ensuring consistent quality across shots.

The pipeline was showcased through Mara & Milo: Magic & Mayhem, an animated kids short created by just two artists in weeks instead of months
The system supports every stage from ideation and storyboarding to camera control and shot selection
Dimension's approach emphasizes keeping artists in control, positioning the tools as enhancing rather than replacing human creativity
The company has published an "ethical & responsible AI policy" outlining its commitment to maintaining creative roles

Everything from initial ideation, storyboarding, character and environment design, to virtual camera control, shot composition and voiceover has been done by a team of two artists whose creative work was supported by the AI pipeline...the pipeline allowed the artists to accelerate creative and look development and to deliver the finished production in a matter of weeks rather than months. The pipeline meant they could quickly iterate on different ideas across character, costume, environment, lighting, animation, camera moves, and shot creation and selection.

Image Source: Dimension

Higgsfield Introduces Human Motion Presets

Higgsfield's new Pulse feature brings specialized AI motion generation specifically for high-energy human movements in cinematic production. The technology offers pre-optimized motion templates for action sequences like skateboard tricks and sports moves that require zero post-generation fixes - eliminating the morphing and re-roll issues that plague other AI video tools.

Motion library includes specific athletic movements such as skateboard ollies, boxing punches, and basketball dunks
Templates integrate directly into Higgsfield's existing video generation workflow
Creators can select motion presets for dynamic shots without worrying about common AI artifacts
Builds upon Higgsfield's existing cinematic motion control framework (which includes over 50 camera movement presets)
Designed specifically for production professionals needing reliable, high-quality action content

Image Source: Higgsfield

Volinga’s next-gen Gaussian Splats are redefining 3D capture for film, outpacing traditional photogrammetry in virtual production.

Ryan Coogler's Video for Kodak is One of the Best Ads for Movies in a Long Time

On the latest Denoised podcast, Joey and Addy dive into Ryan Coogler's innovative approach to shooting 'Sinners' on 70mm film, plus more tech updates.

Read the show notes or watch the full episode.

Stories, projects, and links that caught our attention from around the web:

🖥️ Sony’s SDK 2.5.0 for the Spatial Reality Display improves 3D rendering and compatibility by enhancing OpenXR support, adding a new OpenXR Control Panel, and updating game engine support including Unreal Engine 5.5 and Unity 6.

🏰 The 2025 Disney Accelerator program is now open for applications, targeting growth-stage startups innovating in XR, AI, sports tech, robotics, and immersive media to collaborate with Disney’s leadership over a three-month intensive beginning this July.

🤝 OpenAI is in advanced talks to acquire Windsurf for $3 billion, marking its largest acquisition and signaling a strategic push into AI products, not just models.

💬 OpenAI's reported plan to create an X-like social media platform puts it in direct competition with major players like Meta and X, and may help the company gather crucial user data for AI development.

🗣️ Larry Jordan's conversation with VP Land's Joey Daoud at the 2025 NAB Show touched on how AI influences the media landscape and strategies for marketing on platforms like YouTube.

☁️ The SMPTE's 2025 Media Technology Summit is now accepting abstract submissions until May 31, covering areas such as cloud computing and cybersecurity.