Vizrt shows how live video can be produced anywhere, without complex studio setups
Updated
April 20, 2026 1:40 PM
A camera filming a still life on a table. PHOTO: UNSPLASH
Vizrt, a media technology company, has introduced a new AI-powered tool to simplify the creation of virtual scenes in live production. Its latest release, the AI Keyer, is built around a simple idea: remove the need for green screens and make virtual production possible in almost any environment.
Traditionally, creating virtual backgrounds or augmented reality (AR) scenes requires controlled studio setups, green screens, precise lighting and skilled operators. That makes high-end visual production expensive and difficult to scale, especially for smaller teams or live, on-the-ground reporting.
The AI Keyer is designed to address that gap. It uses AI trained on real-world footage to identify people in a frame and separate them from the background in real time. This allows production teams to replace backgrounds, insert AR graphics or place presenters into virtual environments—whether they are indoors, outdoors or on location.
"Creating XR environments typically demands large infrastructure investments and requires specialized skills for daily operations. The Vizrt AI Keyer removes all these constraints, so high-quality virtual scenes and AR graphics become a reality for live productions of every size", says Edouard Griveaud, Senior Product Manager at Vizrt.
In practical terms, this means a presenter can appear in a different location without moving, a remote speaker can be placed inside a virtual event space or branded graphics can be added to live interviews without a complex setup. The system works without chroma keying, reducing both preparation time and production overhead.
This shift also reflects how the company is approaching AI more broadly. Instead of treating it as a background feature, Vizrt is positioning AI as a core part of the content creation and delivery process.
"AI is transforming the world, and the creative industries are no exception. At Vizrt, we have been on this journey for years, embedding intelligence into our solutions, empowering storytellers and delivering real, measurable impact for our customers", says Rohit Nagarajan, CEO of Vizrt. "That is not a vision for tomorrow. That is happening today. The Vizrt AI Keyer is the latest proof point of our relentless commitment to innovation. Putting breakthrough technology in the hands of every creative, at every level, everywhere in the world".
Beyond the product itself, the direction is clear. By removing the need for green screens and complex setups, tools like the AI Keyer make it easier to produce high-quality visual content in more flexible settings. The result is a production model that is less tied to physical studios and more adaptable to real-world environments, where content can be created and adjusted in real time.
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From information gaps to global access — how AI is reshaping the pursuit of knowledge.
Updated
January 8, 2026 6:33 PM
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Paper cut-outs of robots sitting on a pile of books. PHOTO: FREEPIK
Encyclopaedias have always been mirrors of their time — from heavy leather-bound volumes in the 19th century to Wikipedia’s community-edited pages online. But as the world’s information multiplies faster than humans can catalogue it, even open platforms struggle to keep pace. Enter Botipedia, a new project from INSEAD, The Business School for the World, that reimagines how knowledge can be created, verified and shared using artificial intelligence.
At its core, Botipedia is powered by proprietary AI that automates the process of writing encyclopaedia entries. Instead of relying on volunteers or editors, it uses a system called Dynamic Multi-method Generation (DMG) — a method that combines hundreds of algorithms and curated datasets to produce high-quality, verifiable content. This AI doesn’t just summarise what already exists; it synthesises information from archives, satellite feeds and data libraries to generate original text grounded in facts.
What makes this innovation significant is the gap it fills in global access to knowledge. While Wikipedia hosts roughly 64 million English-language entries, languages like Swahili have fewer than 40,000 articles — leaving most of the world’s population outside the circle of easily available online information. Botipedia aims to close that gap by generating over 400 billion entries across 100 languages, ensuring that no subject, event or region is overlooked.
"We are creating Botipedia to provide everyone with equal access to information, with no language left behind", says Phil Parker, INSEAD Chaired Professor of Management Science, creator of Botipedia and holder of one of the pioneering patents in the field of generative AI. "We focus on content grounded in data and sources with full provenance, allowing the user to see as many perspectives as possible, as opposed to one potentially biased source".
Unlike many generative AI tools that depend on large language models (LLMs), Botipedia adapts its methods based on the type of content. For instance, weather data is generated using geo-spatial techniques to cover every possible coordinate on Earth. This targeted, multi-method approach helps boost both the accuracy and reliability of what it produces — key challenges in today’s AI-driven content landscape.
Additionally, the innovation is also energy-efficient. Its DMG system operates at a fraction of the processing power required by GPU-heavy models like ChatGPT, making it a sustainable alternative for large-scale content generation.
By combining AI precision, linguistic inclusivity and academic credibility, Botipedia positions itself as more than a digital library — it’s a step toward universal, unbiased access to verified knowledge.
"Botipedia is one of many initiatives of the Human and Machine Intelligence Institute (HUMII) that we are establishing at INSEAD", says Lily Fang, Dean of Research and Innovation at INSEAD. "It is a practical application that builds on INSEAD-linked IP to help people make better decisions with knowledge powered by technology. We want technologies that enhance the quality and meaning of our work and life, to retain human agency and value in the age of intelligence".
By harnessing AI to bridge gaps of language, geography and credibility, Botipedia points to a future where access to knowledge is no longer a privilege, but a shared global resource.