Lynn Rogoff Of Amerikids Productions On Pushing the Boundaries of AI
Balance Technology with Humanity: AI should never replace the human touch. In Bird Woman, we combined D-ID’s technology with powerful voice acting, editors, composers and musicians to bring genuine emotion to the story.
Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries at a breakneck pace, and the entrepreneurs driving this innovation are at the forefront of this revolution. From groundbreaking applications to ethical considerations, these visionaries are shaping the future of AI. What does it take to innovate in such a rapidly evolving field, and how are these entrepreneurs using AI to solve real-world problems? As a part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Lynn Rogoff.
Lynn Rogoff is the CEO of Amerikids Productions, where she serves as a pioneering force in AI-driven storytelling, film, television, and game production. Known for her AI-enhanced animated series Bird Woman, Sacajawea, Lynn has recently earned acclaim with awards at Mojo International Film Awards, Silverlens Awards and WorldFest Houston. Her work combines deep historical research, AI advancements, and an emphasis on engaging, culturally authentic narratives that bridge history and technology.
Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Tell us a bit about your childhood backstory and how you grew up.
I grew up in an environment that combined a love for learning and service. My father was a veterinarian, and my mother was a schoolteacher. Watching my father care for animals and observing my mother’s dedication to her students had a profound impact on me. They instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility, compassion, and curiosity — traits I carry into my work today, especially in creating engaging and educational experiences that resonate with all audiences.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
Creating Bird Woman, Sacajawea has been an exceptional journey. Working with AI platforms like RunwayML and D-ID allowed us to innovate by bringing Sacajawea’s story to life in visually stunning ways. The process of shaping her character as both a native woman and an eagle took me into uncharted territory, where technology met creativity. This blend allowed us to win multiple awards, including:
- Mojo International Film Awards
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Silverlens Awards - WorldFest Houston
These awards underscore how AI can create unique narratives and visuals that traditional methods can’t achieve alone. This film and its accompanying chatbot have caused a stirring in the AI Journalism universe.
Is there a particular person who helped you along the way?
My partner Mark Tabashnick, Amerikids Productions Director of Development is an instrumental figure in my journey. His belief in my writing and filmmaking skills supported the long road and necessary grit to make this film and to delve into AI-based education projects, such as our AI chatbots funded by my university, New York Institute of Technology’s Emerging Technology Grant.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”?
“Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” This idea by Winston Churchill resonates deeply with me because I view both filmmaking and education as transformative journeys rather than a process. It’s the guiding principle for Bird Woman and my work at Amerikids Productions, where AI helps us create immersive experiences.
Which three-character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success?
What inspired you to start working with AI?
I was fascinated by the potential of AI to enrich storytelling. AI tools like D-id, Midjourney, and Runway enabled us to enhance visuals, upscaling images and achieving lifelike, high-resolution animations that wouldn’t have been feasible otherwise. This technology helps us tell historically meaningful stories in ways that captivate a wide range of audiences.
Describe a moment when AI achieved something you once thought impossible.
Using D-ID’s lip-sync capabilities allowed us to synchronize facial expressions and speech for Sacajawea’s character in Bird Woman. Seeing her and all our characters interact with viewers, express emotions, and tell their stories felt surreal, breaking the boundaries of what I thought was possible in animated storytelling. Extraordinarily, we are now partnering with D-id to create innovative EdTech applications with our chatbot technology
Talk about a challenge you faced when working with AI.
One challenge was balancing the technical power of AI with the authenticity of the storytelling process. I wanted to ensure that AI supported, rather than overshadowed, the historical and cultural integrity of Sacajawea’s story. We overcame this by combining AI with voice actors like Sera-Lys McArthur, a Nakota/Assiniboine actress, and Daniel Two Feathers, an actor, Lakota language expert, and flute musician. This human touch was essential. We worked with Sound and Video Editors to shape the AI images into an immersive sound and video design.
Can you share an example of how your work with AI has had a meaningful impact?
The Bird Woman project has significantly impacted family programming. An entire family can now enjoy a film simultaneously offering each audience a gripping experience of familytime.tv. Moreover, students and educators can now engage directly with Sacajawea through our AI chatbot funded by NYIT’s Emerging Technology Grant. They can explore historical themes in an interactive, personalized way, as noted by Pam Baker in her article for Information Week. Our chatbots allow students to ask questions and receive responses tailored to their learning styles, enhancing both engagement and information retention.
Five Things You Need to Know to Shape the Future of AI
What excites you most about the future of AI?
AI’s ability to create personalized, astounding visuals and immersive experiences excites me. At Amerikids Productions, we aim to expand these experiences, offering engaging tools that inspire. We can bring 19th Century characters to life in a 21st-century medium. These characters have a 21st-century sensibility to their look and feel making them relatable and exciting to a modern audience.
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs who want to innovate in AI?
Stay open to collaboration and be willing to learn from others. AI is complex, and a successful project requires input and patient plotting from varied disciplines. In Bird Woman, our success came from a multidisciplinary team that balanced technical expertise with creative storytelling.
How can our readers follow your work online?
Readers can learn more about our projects at Amerikids Productions and follow our latest updates on FamilyTime.tv where Bird Woman is now streaming.
