\n\tAs co-founder of Obsidian Studio alongside Louis Gheysens, Walker has been at the forefront of both exploring and integrating AI alongside live action and CGI in content creation. The studio has offices in five cities across the globe, including New York, Paris and Brussels. It has worked on campaigns for the likes of French luxury giants Longchamp and a campaign for the Beyond Noise multimedia brand with the agency\u00a0Baron & Baron. And it has already expanded the notion of what\u2019s possible with the technology \u2014 precisely, Walker argues, because AI is being used as a tool rather than a replacement.<\/p>\n
\n\tIt\u2019s a philosophy captured in one of the studio\u2019s own banners: \u201cHumans over Hype.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cIt\u2019s starting with the artists and doing what we already do at a world-class level before we come to AI, and then using AI as an extension of our abilities, not as any kind of shortcut, essentially,\u201d he says. \u201cWe truly believe that AI won\u2019t be a one-man show in the future. We still need those different talents that join forces because they have specific strengths, specific talents. Teams are very different from what they used to be, but by bringing their talent together on those tools, that\u2019s how you create the best pieces out there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\tThe traditions of cinematic craft \u2014 including storyboarding with noted artists such as Marc Vena (Logan) and Tani Kunitake (Black Panther) \u2014 remain central to the process, helping the team \u201cunderstand the intelligence of the scene\u201d before exploring what AI can contribute under the guidance of creative partners.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cAI is a wild thing,\u201d Walker says. \u201cSo more than control, how do you get it to reflect the spirit of the director, the spirit of the production designer, the spirit of the cinematographer?\u201d<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\t\tFrom left: Obsidian co-founders Louis Gheysens and Wes Walker.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCourtesy Obsidian Studio<\/p>\n
\n\tSince its founding in 2025, Obsidian Studio has worked closely with Chinese technology company Kling AI, while a partnership with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer\u2019s Imagine Entertainment has further expanded its creative landscape. For co-founder Gheysens, the alliance reflects shared ambitions.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThe very first elements that stood up when we launched the company was that we\u2019re going to we want to understand what exists in the minds of the directors and use those [AI] tools at the service of the directors, not the other way around,\u201d says Gheysens.<\/p>\n