SOUTHWORKS Unleashes the Power of AI at IBC 2023: A Microsoft and Partner Collaboration

In the world of media and entertainment technology, innovation knows no bounds. SOUTHWORKS, pioneers of Development on Demand, the new model for nearshore software development, recently joined forces with Microsoft and several of Microsoft’s key partners to showcase the limitless potential of generative AI at IBC 2023. This momentous event, which attracted over 43,000 attendees from 170 countries at the RAI Amsterdam from September 15^th to 18^th, was a celebration of business innovation and the exploration of new horizons in media technology. SOUTHWORKS played a pivotal role in this journey, contributing five ground-breaking AI demos that left a lasting impression on all who attended.

A Shared Vision:

Johnny Halife, CTO of SOUTHWORKS, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, stating, "AI is the new horizon, and we are eager to help our partners and our customers understand the possibilities and build at the edge, exploring the next-gen power AI can bring to our customers' offerings." With a rich history of pioneering technology solutions, SOUTHWORKS was uniquely positioned to contribute to this endeavor. As Johnny pointed out, “we were there when Azure was being conceived, and now we are at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of Azure AI capabilities”.

The Five AI Scenarios:

SOUTHWORKS, in collaboration with partners Avid, Evertz, Harmonic, MediaKind, and Microsoft, introduced five compelling AI-powered scenarios at IBC 2023:

1. Production Automation with Evertz and Microsoft Azure AI: This scenario showcased AI-assisted copilots for live production in BRAVO Studio. It featured a virtual live production studio that enabled broadcast-quality productions, complete with smart voice-activated highlight production. Producers could leverage voice commands to create rolling or on-demand highlight packages, revolutionizing live production.

2. Intelligent Distribution with Harmonic and Microsoft Azure AI: In this demo, AI automatically extracted relevant events and highlights from a video source. These events and highlights were displayed in a user-friendly timeline as soon as they were detected. Viewers could engage in a conversational AI experience, enhancing their interaction with video content, and highlight clips were seamlessly shown in a picture-in-picture mode.

3. Productivity and Insights with Avid and Microsoft Azure AI: Avid Pro Tools users got a sneak peek into the future with an AI assistant. This AI provided enhanced functionality, aiding creators with asset search, sequence creation, and rapid social channel publishing. It even offered AI-assisted instructions on how to perform various functions, making content creation more efficient than ever.

4. Customer Experience and Monetization with MediaKind and Microsoft Azure AI: Leveraging the power of AI, this scenario focused on sponsor-aware ad-insertion for enhanced relevance, impact, and CPM value. By using Microsoft Azure Computer Vision services for brand recognition, the system seamlessly inserted ads for recognized brands at the next ad break, creating a personalized viewing experience.

5. Creative Intelligence with Microsoft Azure AI: The Azure AI Video Indexer empowered content creators to leverage AI at the edge, even when video content wasn't in the cloud. This capability opens up new possibilities for content management and analysis.

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A Testament to Partnership:

Throughout the four-day conference, SOUTHWORKS, Microsoft, and partner demo teams enthusiastically shared these scenarios with hundreds of attendees. Commenting on the event, Johnny Halife noted “this collaboration is testament to the strength of our relationship with Microsoft, perfectly showcasing our collective achievements made possible by this enduring partnership”.

The Expanding Horizons of AI:

These demo scenarios showcased a wide range of AI capabilities, from speech-to-text and conversational AI to copilot technology. SOUTHWORKS and its partners worked together to address challenges and enhance solutions with next-gen AI capabilities in the media and entertainment sector. However, this is just the beginning for SOUTHWORKS. With the global AI market projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030, according to Bloomberg BI, and global AI adoption steadily on the rise, reaching 35% in 2022, up 4 percentage points from the previous year, according to IBM, SOUTHWORKS is poised to continue pushing the boundaries of AI innovation across various industries, from media to retail, technology, and healthcare.

SOUTHWORKS' collaboration with Microsoft and its partners at IBC 2023 showcased the incredible potential of generative AI. With a keen eye on the future and a commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions, SOUTHWORKS is well-positioned to help its customers accelerate, grow, and scale. As they launch their newly established AI Labs, the future holds even more promise for this forward-thinking company.  

To dive deeper into SOUTHWORKS' AI journey, get in touch today to learn how we can help you on your adoption journey. And for a comprehensive look at the Microsoft IBC showcase and partner demos, visit the Microsoft blog.

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