Will AI dream up the hit TV shows of the future?

Many of us of a certain age will remember the Alan Partridge scene where he is pitching to a TV executive in a bid to get a new series commissioned.

Getting ever more desperate, the fictional British TV presenter suggests shows such as Inner City Sumo, Youth Hostelling With Chris Eubanks, and finally, Monkey Tennis. All were perhaps unsurprisingly rejected.

Maybe Partridge, played by comedian and actor Steve Coogan, would have had better luck if he had let an artificial intelligence (AI) computer system pick the ideas.

That may initially sound like a highly fanciful idea, but a number of TV production companies have already announced that they are using AI to help them dream up new programmes.

These include RTL Group, whose subsidiaries make everything from The X Factor, to The Apprentice, Grand Designs and QI. It said last year that it had “started to support content creation with generative AI.”, external

Meanwhile, Banijay, which makes Deal or No Deal and Keeping Up with the Kardashians, now has a fund to back AI-created content. Announcing this last year,, external it said: “While human creativity will always prevail, it’s important to work alongside the tools which are available to contribute to the future of ground-breaking entertainment.”

While neither firm has yet to unveil a new TV series whose idea came from an AI system, I decided to put one to the test.

So I logged into an AI chatbot, and typed in what I was looking for. I wrote: “I am trying to think up a new TV format. A series with contestants.

“Maybe they would be learning a new skill, like dancing, or perhaps they are trying to compete in communities to have the most sustainable environment. Can you help me with some ideas?”

The AI confirms that this could be an exciting endeavour. And instantly comes up with six ideas.

I like its first suggestion – Skills Mastery Showdown – where contestants would be paired with skilled mentors, and have a limited time to master a specific new skill, such as dancing, cooking or painting.