You probably won’t need to remember the name Incention for long, as it’s unlikely to come to mind again after this. According to Variety, this new platform seeks to develop Hollywood intellectual property (IP) by combining AI tools, fan engagement, and blockchain technology. Incention promotes itself as “a new blueprint for modern franchises, where IP holders, communities, and agents collaborate effortlessly in a boundless playground built on authentic IP. ” However, the real challenge in Hollywood today lies in creating franchises that incorporate user-generated content, uncertain AI technologies, and blockchain hype. Incention’s first franchise—a modern Hollywood term for “story”—is Emergence, a sci-fi concept by David S. Goyer, known for Blade and The Dark Knight. The plot centers on a universe where a white hole—a fascinating counterpart to a black hole—appears, releasing mysterious high-tech objects. Goyer envisions it as a “creative sandbox” allowing artists and fans to build “limitless narratives” across genres and formats. (The title itself is odd, sounding strikingly like Christopher Nolan’s Inception, a film Goyer wasn’t involved with. What exactly is it meant to imply?Incentive prevention?) The main AI tool for Incention, named Atlas, is designed to act as a creative partner for content development. The company asserts it can generate ideas, steer storylines, and even create full videos. Additionally, Atlas will autonomously post on social media to improve itself, possibly due to the current difficulties of human-run franchise social media. Leveraging the Story blockchain, Incention plans to track content produced by fans and creators across all franchises, attempting to address another perceived gap. The NFT craze has waned, and outside of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, practical blockchain applications remain scarce.

“A couple of years ago, I realized that AI isn’t going away; it will deeply integrate into society, ” Goyer told Variety. “So, I began learning everything I could—from ChatGPT to Midjourney and other tools. I believe they have valuable uses that won’t necessarily replace jobs—although many AI applications could. Here, though, we’re not replacing anyone. Rather, we’re providing avenues for those typically excluded from Hollywood or publishing. ” Still, Incention faces a major issue: it doesn’t truly tackle Hollywood’s problems. Like the short-lived Quibi, Incention is driven mainly by technology, not genuine creator needs or a franchise-thirsty audience. Unlike Quibi, it doesn't launch with nearly $2 billion in funding (though it has undisclosed backing from a16z’s crypto fund) or the Hollywood clout of DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg. Moreover, Incention seems to misunderstand fan-generated content’s core motivation. Fans create fanfic, fanart, and cosplay not merely for money but because characters and stories genuinely resonate with them. Good luck inspiring the same passion for a forgettable franchise like Emergence. “The entertainment industry stands at a crossroads, ” Incention’s vision manifesto declares. “As AI generates endless content, traditional entertainment faces an existential challenge: how to protect human creativity while embracing new technology?The answer isn’t resistance but collaboration and shared rewards. ” My prediction?It won’t last beyond a month.