Top 5 in Tech: Google’s AI World Model Leap, Lightcraft Spark, ElevenLabs Gets into AI Music

VP Land Staff

VP Land is a newsletter & YouTube channel covering the latest updates in creative technology for M&E professionals.

Here's a quick roundup of the most significant developments in media and entertainment technology this week:

🌎 Google DeepMind Genie 3: Huge Leap in AI World Models

Genie 3 generates interactive 3D worlds from text prompts or video/image inputs in real time, running at 24 fps in 720p. Its short-term “world memory” preserves your edits—such as terrain changes or new weather—intact for minutes, allowing environments to persist and evolve as you explore. Now in limited preview.

🎧 ElevenLabs Launches Eleven Music: AI Song Creation with Licensing Built In

ElevenLabs has launched Eleven Music, an AI platform that generates high-quality tracks from text prompts in any genre, style, or language, with or without vocals. Backed by licensing deals with Merlin and Kobalt, it offers fine-tuned control over instrumentals and vocals while addressing copyright concerns.

🎬 Lightcraft’s Spark Aims to Supercharge Indie Productions

Lightcraft Technology has unveiled Spark, a browser-based platform that blends AI, 3D tools, and traditional filmmaking to let teams create shots and coordinate productions from pre to post. Building on the Emmy-winning Jetset technology, Spark is slated for a 2026 release with beta testing coming soon, offering filmmakers—especially independents—a way to quickly visualize and refine ideas, overcome scheduling hurdles, and strengthen funding pitches.

🤖 GPT-5 Launch Brings Unified AI Power to ChatGPT

OpenAI has rolled out GPT-5 to all ChatGPT users, merging its reasoning models with standard GPT capabilities so you no longer have to switch between versions. The unified system handles everything from coding and research briefs to full app builds with improved accuracy. Free users get limited GPT-5 access, while paid subscribers receive full access with expanded usage limits and enterprise deployment starting next week.

🔮 Sphere’s AI Wizard of Oz Sparks Backlash

Sphere’s $80M AI-assisted Wizard of Oz adaptation for its 16K immersive theater drew backlash after CBS Sunday Morning showed AI-enhanced close-ups, expanded scenery via outpainting, and recreated performances from original actors. VFX artists say most of the work used traditional effects, calling the outrage overblown. We think the wide, high shots in the segment did a disservice to the true experience: it’s designed to be experienced from floor-level seats. What do you think?

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