207: Behind Pixar: Untold Stories of Technology and Creativity with Co-Founder Alvy Ray Smith

Sophie Alcorn Podcast

Visionary insights from Dr. Alvy Ray Smith, co-founder of Pixar, reveal the unnoticed revolution of digital convergence that began around 2000. He shares how this shift from analog to digital media, driven by the relentless pace of Moore's Law, set the stage for game-changing technologies like AI. Through a captivating discussion, we revisit the days when analog ruled and follow the technological trailblazers who redefined our media landscape, illustrating the persistent theme of change and adaptation in the digital era.

Dr. Alvy Ray Smith is the co-founder of Pixar, was the first Director of Computer Graphics at Lucasfilm, and has received two technical Academy Awards for digital moviemaking. He is the author of A Biography of the Pixel from MIT Press about the Great Digital Convergence that drives the modern world.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Digital convergence around 2000, transitioning media from analog to digital bits.

• Impact of Moore's Law on technological advancements, including AI.

• Evolution from typewriters to digital filmmaking, leading to Pixar's creation.

• Challenges and patronage in Pixar's early days, including interactions with Steve Jobs.

• Reflections on future technological changes and the role of critical thinking.

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Supporting Resources:

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvy-ray-smith-7b19006a?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

Website - http://alvyray.com

https://www.amazon.com/Biography-Pixel-Leonardo-Alvy-Smith/dp/0262542455/

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