Gen AI Video: A Replacement, or a Whole New Category of Storytelling?
Most AI video companies are racing to replace live-action production. The bigger opportunity is a brand-new category of storytelling — and India may be best placed in the world to lead it.
Quick answer: Most companies use generative AI to cheaply imitate live action — but the bigger opportunity is a new category of storytelling that builds entirely new worlds, the way animation and the smartphone created new categories rather than replacing what came before. India, with its deep storytelling culture, is unusually well placed to lead it.
- AI-as-replacement is the small idea; AI-as-new-category is the big one.
- Like animation, it expands the medium rather than replacing live action.
- The 'soulless' look comes from unsolved human emotion, especially the eyes.
- India's storytelling heritage is a genuine competitive advantage here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace filmmakers and actors?
Unlikely. Like animation and VFX before it, generative AI is expected to expand the video industry rather than replace it — creating more content, more revenue and new kinds of roles, while live action continues alongside it.
Why do AI videos sometimes look soulless?
Because current models struggle with human performance — especially the muscles around the eyes, where most emotion is read. Until the body, face and eyes move in unison, AI characters can feel subtly off.
What is the real future of generative AI video?
Beyond cost-saving imitation of live action, the bigger opportunity is a new category of storytelling that builds entirely new worlds — much like animation or the smartphone created new categories rather than replacing what came before.