A.I. Start-ups Spend $80,000 on Hype Videos to Announce Funding as Talent Fight Intensifies
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 27
A.I. Start-ups Spend $80,000 on Hype Videos to Announce Funding as Talent Fight Intensifies
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 27
Daydream staged an $80,000 Alice in Wonderland-style shoot with about 20 crew members to unveil a $15 million funding round on social media.
San Francisco A.I. start-ups are increasingly paying tens of thousands of dollars for traditional film crews and equipment to make polished announcement videos that stand out in a crowded market.
Founders are using the productions not just to publicize fundraising but also to recruit engineers and other talent as venture capital money fuels a scramble for attention.
Many are avoiding cheap A.I.-generated video tools because they fear amateur-looking content could hurt credibility in an industry where new start-ups can be built quickly.
Are lavish hype videos a smart investment in the AI gold rush or the first sign of a bubble?
Why are top AI companies choosing old-school film crews over their own advanced technology?