Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor at The UWI, Professor Clive Landis (right) making a point to Minister in Economic Affairs and Investment, Senator Chad Blackman (second from left), while Economic Affairs Officer in the Division on Globalization and Development Strategies at UNCTAD, Dawei Wang (left), and Chinese Ambassador, Yan Xiusheng, look on. (GP)
Minister in Economic Affairs and Investment, Senator Chad Blackman, is encouraging all prospective film makers to grasp the opportunities that will transform the industry through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).
Senator Blackman made the suggestion today while delivering the keynote address at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) three-day workshop, under the theme: Building Resilience through South-South Cooperation and Targeted Policy Strategies, at the Accra Beach Resort and Spa.
He shared the example of film maker Tyler Perry who halted his plans to invest USD 800 million to expand his film production company because “film makers can now create first-class, world-class movies through artificial intelligence”.
Mr. Blackman reasoned that this showed that there was a shift in the film production market and encouraged Barbadians to use AI technology to tell their own stories.
“What he (Tyler Perry) has realised is that there is a major restructuring in the market vis-a-vis, AI. Whatever you can think about, you can now create. You do not have to go through necessarily a big production company, taking millions of dollars to produce a film. You just need the tools and being able to conceive [the idea]. Therefore, it calls for greater imagination of what the sector looks like, telling our stories and [looking for ways] to get our stories across different markets.
“What that will do invariably is to create a demand for Barbadian goods…. We have a history of being world-class in terms of sports and music…. There is nothing stopping Barbados from positioning itself through movies, films, and sitcoms, and being seen as a country that offers solutions that are backed by research and development,” he proffered.
Given this new technological revolution, the Minister suggested that the traditional way of thinking must “go through the door”, adding that AI presented tremendous opportunities, and he called for a greater understanding of the change needed to effect this.
“We must not be wedded to think that yes, once studying computer science is critical and programming is critical…you now have tools that allow you to not become a programmer but to become a conceiver of ideas to use the necessary programmes to create what you need…
“The point I am making is this…where is the world going and how do we reposition Barbados through our educational system, through our business and private sector, and exposing our people and young people to a new reality?” Senator Blackman queried.
During the opening session, there were also speeches from UNCTAD’s Director of the Division on Globalization and Development Strategies, Richard Kozul-Wright; Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor at The University of the West Indies (The UWI), Professor Clive Landis; and Chinese Ambassador to Barbados, Yan Xiusheng.
The workshop, which concludes on Thursday, February 29, is organised by the Government of Barbados, UNCTAD, and The UWI, and funded by China Aid for Shared Future.