Paramount-Skydance CEO David Ellison Plans to “Embrace AI” to Predict Audience Preferences

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After acquiring Paramount, Skydance signaled its ambitions extend beyond traditional filmmaking.

According to insiders, CEO David Ellison is focused on transforming Paramount into a tech company. He frequently discusses integrating artificial intelligence and says the studio is using data analysis to better understand audience preferences.

Ellison often highlights Oracle’s technology skills as a way to boost Paramount+, suggesting it could help the streaming service go from being a minor competitor to a leading one. However, industry experts are doubtful. A key concern is where the necessary data will come from, and many believe it won’t be sufficient to compete with Netflix, which has a strong lead in the market thanks to its advanced recommendation system.

As a critic who’s seen a lot of shifts in Hollywood, I’m hearing a pretty stark assessment from legal expert Schuyler Moore at Greenberg Glusker. He believes the traditional studio system is basically finished – past its prime and struggling to stay relevant. He thinks their only option is to merge with other studios, but even that won’t save them. According to Moore, they’ve simply waited too long to adapt to the changing landscape, and the party’s already moved on without them.

Despite recent challenges, Ellison remains optimistic. People close to his plans say he wants Paramount to increase its output of movies and shows. The studio intends to significantly grow the number of films it releases each year, from eight currently to 15 by 2026, 17 by 2027, and 18 by 2028. Cindy Holland, formerly of Netflix and now in charge of Paramount’s streaming services, is spearheading this effort to develop more compelling content for Paramount+.

The Ellison family’s growing power is already making waves in Hollywood. The Writers Guild of America strongly opposes a potential merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery, calling it harmful to writers, viewers, and fair competition. They’ve stated they will work with government regulators to prevent the deal from happening.

Despite ongoing challenges in the media industry after the decline of the ‘Peak TV’ era, experts say a new, financially strong owner is bringing fresh energy. Analysts are impressed with Ellison’s bold vision.

According to Jessica Reif Ehrlich, a senior analyst at Bank of America Securities, the company is focused on the future. She notes they’re actively investing in better content and successfully putting their plans into action.

Since taking the reins at Paramount, Ellison and his team have been making bold and quick decisions. They’ve already spent $150 million to acquire The Free Press, a news publication originally built on Substack, and have reshaped the company by reducing staff and bringing in leaders with perspectives that differ from the usual Hollywood norms.

As a longtime movie fan, I’ve been hearing a lot about the changes happening behind the scenes at CBS and Paramount. It seems the new leadership has brought in some very vocal supporters of Israel, like CBS News’ editor-in-chief, and conservative figures like Paramount’s co-chair. What’s really concerning, though, is what insiders are saying: those who’ve stayed on are apparently facing really tough questioning about how things are run and whether decisions are being made effectively. It’s creating a pretty tense atmosphere, from what I understand.

AI is set to be a key part of Paramount+’s plans for the future. Bob Bakish is hoping to use data analysis to learn what viewers want, leading to more customized recommendations and a better understanding of which movies and shows will be hits. It’s unclear if this strategy will help Paramount+ compete with established streaming services like Netflix, but it demonstrates Bakish’s vision for combining traditional Hollywood filmmaking with cutting-edge technology to transform the entertainment industry.

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2025-11-05 10:45