AI is being sold as a cure-all across media and entertainment, but most organizations are discovering a harder truth: AI only creates value when it’s tied to a real business problem, implemented in the flow of work, and measured against outcomes that matter. This session cuts through the hype to focus on practical, “post-hype” AI—grounded in real client lessons and the decisions leaders face when moving from experimentation to durable impact. We’ll share how teams are prioritizing use cases, validating value, and scaling what works responsibly—looking beyond cost takeout to include revenue growth, audience impact, creative enablement, operational resilience, and speed-to-market. Attendees will leave with clear frameworks to evaluate where AI fits, what it takes to succeed, and how to avoid common traps that stall promising pilots. Discussion topics will include: – How to separate AI use cases with real ROI from “nice demos” – Defining success metrics beyond cost savings (revenue, retention, quality, velocity, risk) – Adoption realities: integrating AI into workflows so it actually gets used – Common failure patterns—and how to spot them early – How to think about the human/AI mix – and why it matters Expect an executive-level, practical session designed to help leaders make smarter AI bets—focused on what works, why it works, and how to turn AI from buzzword into business impact.