The makers of the upcoming sci-fi TV show "Space Nation" have hired a firm to create a bespoke artificial intelligence (AI) model to generate backdrops, spaceships, and more for the series, which is tied into an Ethereum game.

Based on crypto MMORPG Space Nation Online, which runs on Ethereum layer-2 network Immutable zkEVM, the show recently started development led by executive producers Roland Emmerich—known for directing "Independence Day," "2012," and "Stargate"—and Marco Weber, the producer of "Igby Goes Down" and "The Thirteenth Floor."

While exploring how they could use AI, they received presentations from the biggest companies in the space—including OpenAI and its Sora tech—but decided against such major players. Instead, they decided to go with a smaller company called Cybever that would create a version of their product custom built for the TV show.

“The people at Cybever have started working on that. Simultaneously to our development process, they will get some of the scripts to see what we are building. We want to really build a production-specific AI software for the production of this [show],” Marco Weber told Decrypt in a video interview.

Cybever is a California-based AI company mostly focused on developing a model built for video games. Its beta launched in September with AI-driven tools that aim to allow users to generate 3D landscapes, scenes, and worlds for Unreal Engine 5—a powerful creation engine used widely across the video game industry, but also in TV and film.

Its collaboration with "Space Nation" will see Cybever create a bespoke AI tool to generate backdrops, spaceships, and more for the show. But the executive producers draw the line at using AI scriptwriters or actors.

“We have too much respect for our own trade," Weber said. "Actors [and] writers, we would never replace these with AI."

In recent years, unions like SAG-AFTRA and WGA have gone on strike to prevent the usage of AI in TV, movie, and video game production. While these unions are primarily focused on protecting writers and actors, less-prominent organizations such as the United Scenic Artists have looked to protect the set designers and artists more broadly.

“This is a technology that nobody can stop. It is too good, too realistic. I just hope that I can work with that and create incredible backgrounds,” Emmerich told Decrypt.

Space Nation Online soft-launched in September. After seeing the release go off without any major hitches, Emmerich and Weber decided to kick-start the show’s development. 

The show will follow a girl as she faces the dilemma of either defending Earth from invading aliens, or fleeing to safety in space, and it's sure to feature some of the big moments that Emmerich—the "Master of Disaster"—is known for with his big-budget films. It will also serve as a prequel to the game's setting.

Currently, "Space Nation" is estimated for an early 2027 release, and it aims to be a prime example of how AI can be used in television.

“AI is a great tool. When you see it in the form of a tool, you can do whatever you want,” Emmerich told Decrypt. “We will hopefully show [the audience] what could be a possible way to do it.”

Edited by Andrew Hayward