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AI is the ultimate win-win scenario

From $26B today to $167B by 2033

Author

Eddie Yoon
September 29, 2025 • Read time: 8 minutes

👋 Good morning or evening, wherever you are. It’s Monday.

The global market for AI in media and entertainment is projected to grow from $26.34B in 2024 to $166.77B by 2033, a 22.7% CAGR.

Those that position AI as core operating leverage, rather than a peripheral experiment, will set the direction of the entertainment industry for the next decade.

That’s why we’re building something called XANATOS. On the surface it looks like an AI media company. Beneath the surface it’s built to evolve, becoming something far greater than it first appears.

In time it may begin to shape and create itself.

The name comes from David Xanatos, the Gargoyles character known for always having a plan that worked no matter what.

A “Xanatos Gambit” means every outcome moves you forward.

The way forward begins with two simple ideas:

  1. Hire us: World class AI execs with a focus on media and entertainment

  2. Hire them: Coming soon

There’s also a third idea (and a fourth).

The third is ownership. Building and holding IP, including AI native properties that can grow into evolving assets.

(The fourth is something that none of us are ready for…yet.)

More on this soon.

As always, thanks for being part of the journey.

OK let’s keep going ↓

🔥 Creative pulse

Pay attention to this AI video.

On Instagram, DMs are flooded with fans asking where they can watch the full show.

It’s from Lion El Aton, and it’s a preview of one of the biggest opportunities in media and entertainment.

AI shows.

Let me repeat this one more time. AI shows made for the vertical world of social media.

Micro-dramas are everywhere, but AI shows are what people will binge next.

People won’t care that it’s AI. They’ll care that their favorite spinoffs and side stories are alive again and hitting a new generation that never saw them the first time.

AI is about to unlock billions of dollars in dormant IP waiting to be revived and reimagined.

P.S. If you’re passionate about AI creative, join the club. The people inside will pull you higher than you could go alone.

Inside you’ll find filmmakers and festival-recognized directors, Cannes Lions jurors, studio veterans, award-winning creatives from film, gaming, music, and ads, plus early builders of the AI tools shaping the industry.

It’s global, it’s full of ambitious creators, and it’s where the next wave of breakthroughs is happening.

One insight or connection inside could change your life. Join now.

💡 Here’s what you should know

💰 The numbers

  • Qatar Investment Authority backed Anthropic’s $13B round, xAI’s $10B raise, and a $1B Blue Owl data center venture as part of its $500B US pledge, valuing xAI at $200B.

  • Amazon committed $1.9B to its Delivery Service Partner program, bringing total investment to $16.7B and rolling out AI-powered tools to improve driver safety and efficiency.

  • Black Forest Labs is in early talks to raise $200M–$300M at a ~$4B valuation, positioning it among Europe’s leading AI model developers.

  • Alvys raised $40M Series B led by RTP Global to scale its AI-powered freight management platform, bringing total funding to $77M.

  • Paid raised $21.6M seed led by Lightspeed to build results-based billing infrastructure for AI agents, pushing total funding to $33.3M at a $100M+ valuation.

  • Lexroom.ai raised €16M (~$17-18M) Series A to expand its AI legaltech platform.

  • Alex raised $17M Series A to build an AI recruiter that automates initial interview screening.

  • Anything raised $11M at a $100M valuation after hitting $2M ARR in its first two weeks to scale its AI-powered vibe-coding app builder.

  • Aiode raised $5.5M seed led by Horizon Capital to build an ethical AI music platform that virtualizes musicians with consent-based training.

  • Actual AI raised $3.2M seed led by AlleyCorp to develop autonomous agent tools for engineering managers.

🧠 Thought starters

Over the weekend, London-based Particle6 unveiled Xicoia, an “AI talent studio” whose first creation, digital actress Tilly Norwood, has already drawn interest from Hollywood agents and sparked fierce pushback across the industry.

The studio’s CEO, Eline Van der Velden, framed Norwood as “a piece of art” and “a new paintbrush” for storytelling.

Critics including Emily Blunt and Kiersey Clemons argue it misses the essence of acting: individuality, lived experience, and human connection.

Statement on Tilly Norwood’s IG:

You know it’s still early when people are angry.

The controversy raises a core question: is AI-generated talent a new form of IP or a fundamental threat to the creative economy?

What happens when creators train AI on themselves, infinitely refining their own voice, image, and style until the line between human and machine disappears?

😂 Meme of the day

Let’s crowdfund this.

Thanks for reading,

Eddie

Join the AI Creative Club (you’ll find me there). It’s not only for artists and filmmakers…it’s for anyone who recognizes this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn as much as you can about AI to multiply your impact...to become superhuman. Remember, creativity is just intelligence having fun. This club is for ultra curious people, and if you’ve made it this far…you’re pretty damn curious and probably the smartest one in your circle of friends. It would be my honor to have you in there.

👋 Connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X (Twitter).

🔥 Hire XANATOS. We make the best AI films and ads in the world.

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