News

Stephanie Prange

December 10, 2025

DEG: The Digital Entertainment Group has announced the launch of DEG.AI, a new alliance dedicated to helping guide the media and entertainment industry through its artificial intelligence transformation, with a core mission to amplify human creativity.

The alliance will be chaired by Ian Fried, a media and technology executive who will also continue to serve as DEG’s general counsel.

“Our vision is to build the essential community where creators, technologists, and media leaders can collaborate, research, and educate,” Fried said in a statement. “We want to have a positive impact as our industry navigates this transition, ensuring AI serves to support, not supplant, human ingenuity.”

The new alliance will be open to the DEG’s 80-plus member companies, applying this trusted, collaborative process to AI’s transformation of content creation, distribution, and consumption pipelines. Given the rapid pace of development, coupled with uncertainty around rights and regulation, there is an urgent need for the trusted collaboration and shared learning that DEG.AI will provide, according to the DEG.

DEG.AI will offer multiple layers of member engagement:

• DEG.AI Steering Committee: A high-level steering committee composed of key industry leaders will be formed to guide DEG.AI’s strategic direction, set priorities for research, and oversee the creation of educational programs and working groups. 
• Dedicated Working Groups: Focused working groups will convene regularly to address high-priority topics, including AI in production workflows, standards development, localization, accessibility, distribution, and compliance. These committees will provide a trusted forum for members to share challenges, surface concerns, and collaboratively develop industry best practices. 
• Authoritative Industry Research: DEG.AI will commission objective studies on critical topics such as AI adoption patterns, economic impacts, and consumer attitudes. This proprietary, data-driven research will provide a foundation of shared facts to help member companies make confident decisions. 
• Executive Education and Demystification: A comprehensive educational program will be developed to demystify AI and its applications across the entertainment value chain. By addressing technical fundamentals, business implications, legal considerations, and practical strategies, these initiatives will build confidence among executives and creators, creating a common language for industry-wide collaboration. 
• Community and Event Integration: DEG.AI will integrate into DEG’s event portfolio (Membership Meetings, EnTech Fest, EnTech Fest Summer Symposium, Breakfast with the Board series) and recognition programs (EnTech Awards, Hedy Lamarr Awards). These gatherings strengthen relationships beyond formal committee work, building personal connections that enable frank conversation and mutual support. This integration will showcase innovations while celebrating responsible implementation. 

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