S7 Episode 7: Trevor Davis on The AI Revolution in Creative Industries

In this episode of Digitally Curious, Andrew Grill speaks with Trevor Davis, renowned futurist and pioneer in big data, AI, and digital transformation about the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence and the creative industries. Trevor shares insights drawn from decades of experience at the cutting edge, delving into the opportunities, challenges, and ethical dilemmas facing creative professionals in the age of “Createch.”

Key Topics

• Trevor’s Journey: From material science, through leadership at IBM, to independent AI consultancy focused on creative industries.
• Defining Createch: Understanding where creativity meets technology, and how createch businesses differ from traditional creative firms.
• Industry 4.0 in Creativity: The impact of generative AI, digital twins, extended/virtual reality, blockchain, and 3D printing on artistic and commercial creative fields.
• Generative AI in Practice:
  • How tools like ChatGPT, OpenAI Sora, and others are transforming animation, content creation, and writing.
  • Tensions between democratisation of content and the diminishing role of creative gatekeepers.
• Sustainability & AI:
  • Why most createch startups lack sustainability policies, and the significant environmental costs of digital production and AI.
  • The growing need for responsible energy, water, and e-waste management in creative tech supply chains.
• Ethics & IP in Creative AI:
  • Core dilemmas surrounding data usage, IP, and copyright in AI tools trained on creative works.
  • The legal grey zones and the role of large publishers versus individual artists in rights advocacy.
• AI’s Role in Growth:
  • Predictions for the UK creative sector to reach £300 billion by 2030, with AI and createch as catalysts.
  • The shifting dynamics between brands and agencies as clients use generative tools for early-stage concept work.
• Agentic AI & The Future of Advertising:
  • The emerging paradigm where AI agents transact and consume advertising—what it means for brands, agencies, and human creativity.
• Upskilling & Mindset:
  • Why creative professionals must proactively adopt and experiment with AI tools—or risk obsolescence.
  • Three actionable steps for creatives: deepen tool usage, stay informed via industry and technical sources, and build simple agents for hands-on learning.

Quick Fire Round

• Favourite travel seat: aisle
• AI wish: automate laundry
• Most-used app: Things (for daily and long-term planning)
• Book recommendation: “Helm” by Sarah Hall
• Actionable tip: Don’t fear AI—explore, experiment, and keep learning.

Resources Mentioned

Guest website: curiousdemon.com

Connect: Trevor Davis on LinkedIn

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