Mediawan Group has named Max Wiedemann as its first Head of Artificial Intelligence.
The European production and distribution group said it had expanded German producer Wiedemann’s role within the company because the industry is “entering a new era driven by artificial intelligence, which is not only reshaping our world but also transforming the way we produce content.”
Wiedemann will remain Chief Production and Chief Business Development Officer For Mediawan-owned Leonine Studios. His new post will focus on integrating cutting-edge AI tech across the group’s activities.
He has been vocal about the usage of AI in production. Last year, he told the Munich Film Festival the the likes of Google and OpenAI should allow content owners to share in the upside from artificial intelligence tools.
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Today, he said in a statement: “Both Mediawan and Leonine have already cultivated significant expertise in AI, and I am eager to collaborate with our highly skilled international teams. By uniting our strengths and expertise, I am confident that we will be well-equipped to adapt to the rapid pace of this technological advancement.”
Leonine Studios CEO Freg Kogel said the appointment is “a testament to the collaborative spirit between Mediawan and Leonine Studios in exploring innovative ways to work together,” and added, “By leveraging AI, we will enhance our creative and operational capabilities and drive further growth.”
AI remains a hugely controversial topic in TV and film production, making the appointment of a high profile-figure such as Wiedemann all the more noteworthy. He is known for making hits such as Oscar winner The Lives of Others and Netflix’s first German original series, Dark, with his production partner, Quirin Berg among.
Wiedemann was a co-founder of Germany’s Leonine, which was acquired by Mediawan in April last year.
Generative AI has been the key flashpoint. In October last year, UK network ITV was met with backlash after it posted a job ad for a Head of Generative AI Innovation role. Lisa McGee, the writer of comedy Derry Girls was among those criticizing the job as “incredibly depressing.”