How AI took over the world and what it means for TV
Over the past year, artificial intelligence has stopped being a distant sci-fi promise and become a starring actor in nearly every industry. Once the preserve of research labs and niche tech firms, AI has gone mainstream. Suddenly, boardroom conversations, media headlines, and dinner-table debates aren’t about “what if,” but about “what now?”
AI’s rise to ubiquity wasn’t just because of its technical leaps (though those have been staggering). It was fueled by a perfect storm: the democratization of access, the democratization of tools, and a media narrative that couldn’t stop talking about it. Cloud providers made powerful models available via APIs; open-source initiatives made AI more accessible; and as soon as creators, entrepreneurs, and big institutions realized what was possible, adoption exploded.
In the press, AI was everywhere. Headlines touted breakthroughs in image generation, natural language understanding, automation and creative content. Meanwhile, social media amplified both the marvels and the anxieties, raising questions about job displacement, copyright, authenticity and bias. But these debates only made AI more visible, more “real” for everyday people.
Within this frenzy, one domain that might have seemed immune to disruption began to transform more quietly, but profoundly: television, video and streaming. What once felt like the old guard of legacy media is now being reimagined through the lens of AI. From personalized recommendations to content creation, even to operational backbone improvements, AI is embedding itself in how TV is built, delivered and experienced.
The state of AI in TV, Video & Streaming
A New Era for Content, Discovery, and Operations
- Personalization and Recommendation
Modern streaming platforms increasingly rely on AI to tailor content to individual users. These systems analyze viewing habits, time of day, device usage, and more to suggest what to watch next. Broadcasters are also exploring generative models to craft trailers, personalize promos, or even generate dynamic ad content. - Content Creation and Production
Generative AI isn’t just for images or text – it’s helping with video, too. From script ideation to storyboarding, AI assists creatives by offering ideas, generating rough cuts, or even creating visual effects. Some production houses now use AI tools to upscale old footage, restore resolution, or reimagine legacy content. This accelerates workflows and reduces costs. - Operational Efficiency
Behind the scenes, AI is driving smarter resource allocation. For example, network operators use machine learning to predict peak demand and dynamically manage delivery infrastructure. AI-driven analytics can monitor streaming quality in real time, detect buffering issues, and reroute traffic to ensure smooth playback. - Regulation, Ethics, and Trust
The flip side: AI’s integration into media raises real concerns. The British Film Institute recently issued a warning that AI companies are training models on tens of thousands of TV and film scripts without authorization, posing a direct threat to screen industries.
At the same time, media companies are grappling with how to responsibly use AI. The BBC, for instance, announced plans to use AI in iPlayer for personalization, translation and live-text generation, but emphasizes maintaining public trust and editorial integrity.
Industry voices also call for balanced regulation. Some warn of copyright misuse; others encourage innovation under fair licensing regimes. - Immersive & Experiential Media
AI is no longer limited to screens. In entertainment, we’ve seen bold experiments like the Las Vegas Sphere’s “Wizard of Oz” show, where Google DeepMind contributed AI-enhanced visuals to create an immersive, LED-wrapped experience.
These kinds of productions suggest that AI might reshape not just what we watch, but how we watch.
How AgileTV is navigating the AI revolution
At AgileTV, we don’t just see AI as a buzzword. We see it as integral to our mission, delivering scalable, flexible, and intelligent TV-as-a-Service (TVaaS) solutions.
- Smart Streaming & Observability
We’ve integrated our CDN Director solution with observability tools from Agama to improve content delivery. This pre-integration allows us to make data-driven decisions in real time: adjusting capacity, anticipating network issues, and rerouting streams to maintain optimal quality.
- Modular and Intelligent Platform
Our TV Platform is built for flexibility. It supports multi-device apps, drag-and-drop editorial tools, metadata enrichment, and intelligent content recommendations. With AI-powered metadata and discovery rails, operators can better tailor experiences to what audiences care about.
- Speed and Agility
Our “TV as a Service, your way” philosophy means we can roll out new services quickly. For example, we powered the launch of Lowi TV in Spain with a rapid implementation that hit market faster than traditional deployments.
- Partnerships that Drive Innovation
We’re constantly forming partnerships that bring AI into the heart of TV operations. Our work with GlobalDots introduces automated multi-CDN management, enabling intelligent routing among CDNs.
On the business side, we continue deploying our services across diverse markets, leveraging cloud-native, scalable infrastructure powered by AI-driven optimization to help operators deliver more efficient and future-ready TV experiences.
Why does this matter?
- For telcos and ISPs, it means better quality, more efficient infrastructure and the ability to offer differentiated TV services without massive capex.
- For end users, it translates into more relevant content, smoother streaming and a richer viewing experience.
- For the entire value chain, it signals a transformation where AI isn’t just a feature, but a foundational layer.
Where we go from here
Reflecting on how fast AI has woven itself into our world, you might ask: what comes next? If the last year was about discovery and disruption, the next few should be about purpose, ethics, and sustainable integration.
Some voices are optimistic. For instance, at Web Summit 2025, Bluesky COO Rose Wang and Hootsuite CEO Irina Novoselsky argued that while AI amplifies creativity, it doesn’t replace human expression. Their perspective highlights an important balance: AI as a force multiplier, not a substitute.
In television and media, respected thinkers foresee a future where AI helps operators better understand audience behavior, decide what content to produce, and deliver more immersive experiences without compromising authenticity.
And at AgileTV? We believe we’re not just witnessing a revolution. We’re building it. As the world shifts ever faster, we’re ready. Ready to help telcos and ISPs lead with smarter video. Ready to give viewers experiences that feel personal, seamless and exciting. Ready to shape the next chapter of entertainment.
AI came into our lives at speed. But it’s not just here to stay. It’s here to grow with purpose. And as we look to the months and years ahead, we’re more convinced than ever that the future of TV will be intelligent, human-centric, and relentlessly innovative.
Sources:
Financial Times, The Guardian, Reuters, Axios
