Yahoo Lifestyle David S. Goyer Sets ‘Emergence’ Franchise at New AI and Blockchain-Driven Platform Incention (EXCLUSIVE)
“Foundation” and “The Dark Knight” trilogy writer and producer David S. Goyer has set up a sci-fi franchise titled “Emergence” at Incention, a new platform that aims to “bring AI and blockchain to Hollywood, and redefine how modern franchises are developed.”
Centered around a white hole in a galaxy, the “Emergence” franchise will feature various storytelling mediums, including podcasts, comics and animations.
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Built using blockchain AI storytelling platform Story, Incention will launch Goyer’s project to “showcase the potential of this revolutionary model” and “capture mainstream attention while redefining how IP evolves.” “Emergence” will be created by Incention users as well as through its generative AI tool, Atlas, which is designed to serve as a “creative partner” to help with common tasks like aggregating ideas, crafting narratives and generating full videos.
Per Incention, “Atlas will be able to autonomously post on social media platforms, community manage and gauge sentiment online to refine its creative process. Atlas can be thought of as a co-pilot, fostering the creative relationship between humans and AI for a more efficient output with more potential for better, high-quality stories and increased revenue potential.”
“There have been obviously the AI doomsayers and AI adopters, and I would say I fall somewhere in the middle,” Goyer told Variety. “A couple of years ago, I realized that it’s not going away, it’s going to completely embed itself within society. So I tried to learn as much about it as I could, whether it be ChatGPT or Midjourney or the various other tools, and I think those have useful applications that don’t necessarily put people out of a job — although there are a lot of potential AI applications that could. But in this instance, we’re not putting anyone out of a job. If anything, this is a tool to allow people that normally wouldn’t have an entry point into Hollywood or publishing houses or things like that. I think it’s a tool like anything else. I think it obviously can be misused. It needs significant guard rails. But with this, AI didn’t create any of this. We think of Atlas as a co-pilot for creators. And initially, it’s going to serve as a teaching tool for them, because it’s steeped in the canon. I felt comfortable enough with these guys to engage on this project and it was interesting. We asked the same challenging questions of ourselves. It has to be set up with guardrails, and it has to be used ethically, but it’s not going away. So we can stick our heads in the sand, or we can educate ourselves and try to use it.”
Backed by venture capital fund a16z crypto, Incention aims to “introduce a new blueprint for building modern franchises, where IP holders, communities and agents collaborate seamlessly in an endless playground rooted in real IP.”
“Incention empowers studios and rights holders to safely open their IP to a new generation of creators while leveraging AI tools and programmable IP rails to streamline licensing, revenue sharing, and community engagement,” the company says. “Creators can gain legitimate access to expand beloved universes, smart contracts handle rights management, and fans contribute through platforms they already use, like contributing through social media—shaping and profiting from the story universes they love.”
The platform is described as “meeting society where they’re at and building the bridge between tech and Hollywood.”
“’Emergence’ is a story universe designed as a creative sandbox — a galaxy shaped by mysterious forces where storytellers can explore limitless narratives, empowering both creators and audiences to play a role in shaping the canon, together,” Goyer said. “With Incention’s tools and Story’s technology, creators can add characters, worlds and relics, all tracked and financially compensated across mediums. We’re inviting collaborators to help weave this evolving tapestry of tales.”
“We’re ushering in a new era where creators, fans and IP holders can connect like never before via AI,” Incention CEO and co-founder Chase Rosenblatt said. “To creators: Your talent deserves more opportunity and more upside. To fans: You deserve fresh, captivating content and the ability to shape its future. To IP holders: Your stories deserve fresh perspectives and untapped revenue streams. And to Hollywood: We’re looking to partner with other innovative minds like David S. Goyer and help bring their IP to life in a format that will not only survive, but thrive. Incention’s AI-powered tools, combined with the Story platform, simplify the complexities of IP ownership, unlocking co-collaborative, future-proof storytelling that will redefine Hollywood’s next chapter and the industry’s relationship with AI.”
Jason Zhao, co-founder and chief protocol officer of Story contributor PIP Labs, added: “The current IP landscape faces unprecedented challenges as digital content explodes and traditional frameworks fall short with the rise of AI. By introducing AI agents that can add rather than detract from productivity and creativity, Story transforms IP into a dynamic, networked resource. With Incention as our IP development platform, we are enabling creators to monetize effectively, developers to innovate freely, and communities to thrive. ‘Emergence,’ led by the visionary David S. Goyer, exemplifies this transformation by demonstrating how collaborative storytelling can create iconic franchises. With Goyer’s creative leadership, we’re paving the way for a new era of immersive, community-driven universes.”
Watch the trailer for Goyer’s “Emergence” franchise below.
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