Disney's embarrassing AI-generated Star Wars video of scrambled up animals was the opening salvo in a year full of AI humiliation

At a TED talk back in April, Lucasfilm senior vice president of creative innovation Rob Bredow presented a demonstration of what he called "a new era of technology." Across 50 years of legendary innovation in miniature design, practical effects, and computer animation, Lucasfilm and its miracle workers at Industrial Light & Magic have blazed the trail for visual effects in creative storytelling—and now Bredow was offering a glimpse at what wonders might come next.

That glimpse, created over two weeks by an ILM artist...