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Insights

UK's Creative Industries through our reports, insights and research

Welcome to our Insights page where you can discover the latest research from the CoSTAR Network's UK-wide team of world-class researchers, academics and experts.

Explore our reports, papers and articles shaping the future of the UK's creative industries, covering a wide range of perspectives from responses to government sustainability policy to proposals on how to build a fair AI copyright framework.

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A large professional film or photography studio filled with equipment and crew members. The space is dominated by a huge, seamless bright blue backdrop that curves at the base, creating an infinity‑style stage. Several silhouetted figures stand or work around cameras, tripods, and large LED panel lights positioned throughout the room. The floor reflects the blue light, and overhead rigging and studio fixtures are visible across the dark ceiling.
Foresight LAB
research
AI

AI in the Creative Industries Quarterly Digest - April to June 2026

Welcome to the CoSTAR Foresight Lab’s screen sector digest, summarising events and developments in AI each quarter.

Posted: 14 July 2026
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A hand wearing a smart wristband with light emanating from it
National LAB
project
AI

Exploring Governance in AI-Enabled Live Event Contexts

This report looks at how AI-enabled live events promise immersive, personalised experiences – but they depend on collecting and using personal data, including biometric and identity information, in ways that existing governance frameworks were not designed to address.

Posted: 13 July 2026
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Foresight LAB
research
AI

Creative Technology Policy Signals Briefing #1

The first in a series of Policy Signals briefings, this publication examines emerging trends, early indicators of change, and longer-term policy trajectories shaping AI in the creative technology landscape.

Posted: 06 July 2026
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Immersive experience
Foresight LAB
research
AI

Copyright and Artificial Intelligence – Literature review

This literature review captures the debate around AI and copyright, focusing on academic literature, blog posts and grey literature. Originally coinciding with a government consultation on AI and copyright launched in 2024 (HM Government, 2024) and now updated in June 2026, this literature review looks at alternative approaches from which the UK might learn.

Posted: 26 June 2026
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A mockup of Thol’s user interface, copyright Black Goblin
Foresight LAB
research
AI

Tracking adoption of generative AI in the creative industries

Through a unique collection of case studies, the CoSTAR Foresight Lab is tracking adoption of AI technologies and building a knowledge base to help creatives, industry leaders and policy makers stay up to date with emerging use cases, new possibilities and evolving practice.

Posted: 26 April 2026
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A large professional film or photography studio filled with equipment and crew members. The space is dominated by a huge, seamless bright blue backdrop that curves at the base, creating an infinity‑style stage. Several silhouetted figures stand or work around cameras, tripods, and large LED panel lights positioned throughout the room. The floor reflects the blue light, and overhead rigging and studio fixtures are visible across the dark ceiling.
Foresight LAB
research
AI

AI in the Screen Sector Quarterly Digest - January to March 2026

Welcome to the CoSTAR Foresight Lab’s screen sector digest, summarising events and developments in AI each quarter.

Posted: 23 April 2026
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A large professional film or photography studio filled with equipment and crew members. The space is dominated by a huge, seamless bright blue backdrop that curves at the base, creating an infinity‑style stage. Several silhouetted figures stand or work around cameras, tripods, and large LED panel lights positioned throughout the room. The floor reflects the blue light, and overhead rigging and studio fixtures are visible across the dark ceiling.
Foresight LAB
research
AI

AI in the Screen Sector Quarterly Digest - October to December 2025

Welcome to the CoSTAR Foresight Lab’s new screen sector digest, summarising events and developments in AI each quarter.

Posted: 26 February 2026
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virtual production led volume
Foresight LAB
research
AI

AI Policy and its Impacts on the Screen Sector Across the Globe

This report from the CoSTAR Foresight Lab explores how artificial intelligence is impacting the Screen Sector across different international contexts.

Posted: 20 February 2026
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image of a computer screen with large screen behind it showing AI generated imagery with people performing in front of it and operating computers at a desk
National LAB
project
AI

Realtime Conjuring For Live Performance

CoSTAR National Lab's Prototyping Team share a blog about their project looking at the role that audiovisual Generative AI can play in enhancing human creativity in an ethical way using converged media production

Posted: 31 July 2025
Realtime Conjuring For Live Performance
A surreal black‑and‑white scene shows a flat, rectangular platform floating above rough, stormy ocean waves. A small turtle sits near the center of the platform, while a tall wading bird with long legs and outstretched wings stands near the edge. The sky is dark and foggy, adding to the dramatic, dreamlike atmosphere.
Foresight LAB
research
AI

AI in the Screen Sector: Perspectives and Paths Forward

This report represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first UK-wide exploration of the overall impact of generative artificial intelligence (AI) on the full breadth of the UK’s screen sector.

Posted: 09 June 2025
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Foresight LAB
research
AI

UK Innovation in Immersive XR Technologies for screen, performance and digital entertainment: UKRI funding trends and insights (2006–2024)

This report provides a benchmark for the state of play of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) investment into XR technologies for screen, performance and digital entertainment at the close of 2024.

Posted: 28 May 2025
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Cover of the CoSTAR National Lab report 'Time to ACCCT: An AI Copyright Framework for UK Creative Industries'
National LAB
research
AI

Time to ACCCT: an AI copyright framework for UK creative industries

This report considers the challenges in developing a publicly available, machine-readable approach to copyright consent that protects the interests of copyright holders whilst allowing AI companies to legally access data. It is published by CoSTAR National Lab with the support of DECaDE and Sheridans.

Posted: 20 May 2025
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