EA Forum Podcast (Curated & popular) “Untitled Retrospective and Learnings from AI in Context’s First Two VideosDraft” by ChanaMessinger
Jan 6, 2026
Explore the fascinating metrics behind two high-performing AI-focused videos that surpassed all expectations. Discover how strategic choices in topic selection and cinematic presentation contributed to their success. Delve into the intriguing differences in audience engagement between the two videos. Learn valuable lessons for future productions, from effective launch strategies to the importance of storytelling. Hear about the positive feedback from creators and researchers, highlighting the content's impact in the AI discourse.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Big Reach With Reasonable Cost
- 80,000 Hours' first two longform videos massively exceeded expectations, getting millions of views and hundreds of thousands of watch hours.
- Cost per engagement hour was low enough to compare favorably to other programs, even after including staff time.
Follow A Structured Production Timeline
- Aim for a 9–11 week production cycle with overlapping phases to maintain momentum and quality.
- Reserve 3–4 weeks for scripting and 2–3 days for principal photography to hit deadlines reliably.
Value Of A Watch Hour Is Highly Uncertain
- A YouTube watch hour is much less valuable than a targeted website read but reaches more people counterfactually.
- Reasonable estimates place a watch hour at one-third to one-three-hundred of a web reading hour for impact valuation.
