#1542: Exploring the Paradox of Narratively Critiquing AI While Also Using AI to Make “The Last Practice”
Mar 29, 2025
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Phil McCarty, co-producer and co-writer of immersive experiences like 'The Last Practice', explores the complex relationship between AI and creativity. He discusses the irony of using AI tools while critiquing their impact on art. McCarty shares his journey from filmmaking to immersive storytelling, revealing personal narratives that shape his work. The conversation dives into the balance of AI's role in creative expression and the technical challenges faced during production, all while emphasizing the emotional connections in music and storytelling.
The Last Practice explores the paradox of critiquing AI's impact on creativity while simultaneously leveraging AI tools in artistic creation.
Technical challenges during development, such as overheating issues and user interaction glitches, provided valuable insights for refining immersive experiences.
The podcast discusses how XR technology can revolutionize storytelling by fostering emotional resonance and transforming user engagement in creative industries.
Deep dives
The Last Practice: An Immersive Experience
The Last Practice is presented as an immersive XR experience designed for the Apple Vision Pro, focusing on the interplay between creativity and artificial intelligence. The experience showcases a narrative where users engage with a band on the verge of disbanding, utilizing different musical styles represented by iconic album covers like those by Bob Marley and Daft Punk. As users interact with the band members, they help reinvigorate the band by assigning them specific musical influences, leading to a collaborative music-making session. The blending of different genres within the experience illustrates how technology can enhance creative collaboration.
Navigating Technical Glitches
During the development phase of The Last Practice, a variety of technical challenges arose, particularly related to overheating and headset performance. Users often experienced crashes due to a gesture used for strumming the virtual guitar that unintentionally executed a command to exit the experience. These issues created a hectic environment, especially during high-traffic festival days when the strain on the technology was most apparent. Observing these glitches ultimately provided valuable insights into the nature of user interaction and how to refine the experience for future iterations.
The Role of AI in Creativity
Despite the critique of AI's influence on creativity, The Last Practice utilizes AI to enhance the artistic process, showcasing a complex relationship between technology and artistic expression. The creator highlights AI's potential to serve as a tool that supports creativity and collaborative efforts, rather than undermining them. This paradox is explored through the narrative of the experience, where the act of creating music becomes intertwined with the technologies that facilitate it. The concepts of 'push-button creativity' and artistic authenticity are central themes, prompting users to reflect on the future of art in a world increasingly shaped by AI.
Personal Experiences Shaping Artistic Journey
Phil McCarty, the co-producer of The Last Practice, shares his personal journey that led him to explore immersive storytelling and XR technology. Highlighting formative experiences at theme parks and Disney rides, he emphasizes how such encounters inspired his passion for immersive experiences. His professional transition from screenwriting into immersive arts, including work with Marvel and development of his original projects, underscores a commitment to pushing the boundaries of storytelling. These reflections illustrate the significant impact of personal history on creative expression in the evolving landscape of immersive media.
Future of XR and Immersive Storytelling
The discussion around The Last Practice also delves into the broader implications of XR and AI within storytelling and creative industries. As the medium progresses, there is a consensus that immersive experiences can evoke a unique emotional resonance, providing opportunities for empathy and shared human experiences. The innovative potential of XR technology is seen as revolutionary, capable of transforming not just entertainment but also education and emotional understanding. The creator expresses optimism for future developments, envisioning XR as a canvas for rich, emotionally engaging narratives that could redefine human interaction with technology.
The final AI-related piece this year was THE LAST PRACTICE, which I unfortunately have not had a chance to see yet because there were a number of technical glitches that prevented me from seeing it on site. I did however have a chance to remotely catch up with director Phil McCarty to talk more about the story and mechanics of the experience. Part of the synopsis says, "In a world beset with algorithmic careers and generative push-button-creativity in the name of "AI", what is the role of art, and inspiration any more?" After a number of monologues from virtual band members, then you are asked to create a mash-up song from different genres by choosing different album covers. McCarty may be making some critical reflections on AI within his story, but he's also simultaneously a big user of AI tools to facilitate his own creative process in producing this piece. We talk about this paradox in our conversation, but also his journey into the XR industry as a writer, musician, filmmaker, and as a writer on WHAT IF…? – AN IMMERSIVE STORY (previously covered in episodes #1391 & #1437).
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Music: Fatality
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