MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 9, 2026--
Utopai Studios today announced a new collaboration with NBA superstar James Harden on a short-form animated video inspired by one of the most recognizable trademarks in sports: his beard.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260409825094/en/
Available now on Harden’s Instagram, X, and TikTok, Harden is one of basketball’s biggest stars and one of the most recognizable figures in global sports culture. He is known not only for his accomplishments on the court, but for the signature beard that has become central to his public identity and inspired fans for years. The new animated short turns that larger-than-life persona into a playful, character-driven story.
The collaboration began after members of Harden’s team were shown PAI, Utopai Studios’ proprietary cinematic storytelling AI, and brought the technology to him. What started as an introduction quickly became a creative test. Harden responded strongly to the platform, completed an initial video with Utopai Studios, and has now returned for a second - a sign that PAI is resonating not just as a demo, but as a real storytelling tool for professionals.
“I love playing around on PAI,” said James Harden. “We were able to cook up this animated short about my beard real quick. It’s been fun working with Utopai Studios and we got more on the way.”
PAI is Utopai Studios’ proprietary cinematic storytelling AI and the company’s current deployment layer into the filmmaking ecosystem. Designed for screenplay-to-screen workflows rather than prompt-based experimentation, it transforms a screenplay, concept, or story world into consistent characters, cinematic shots, and coordinated sequences through a structured production pipeline. The platform is already being used in real film and television workflows, where those deployments help Utopai Studios learn directly from professional production needs and improve the next generation of its technology.
About Utopai Studios
Utopai Studios is building the technologies that will enable the next generation of media. The company develops proprietary cinematic AI systems for narrative storytelling and deploys them in real film and television workflows. Utopai Studios works with filmmakers, rights holders, broadcasters and media partners to bring ambitious projects to market while generating the production learnings needed to improve its next generation of AI. By operating across model development, production and intellectual property, Utopai Studios occupies a distinctive position at the intersection of AI and media, with a long-term vision of making premium entertainment more adaptive, personalized and globally scalable. For more information, visit www.utopaistudios.com
NBA Superstar James Harden Partners With Utopai Studios for AI Animated Short Celebrating His Legendary Beard
GENEVA (AP) — Thousands of demonstrators converged Sunday to show their discontent against the G7 group of rich countries, with U.S. President Donald Trump and counterparts set to hold a summit starting a day later in nearby France.
Environmentalists and feminists joined foes of imperialism, defenders of independent media, supporters of Palestinian rights and others in a lakeside park in Geneva for a march across town. A boat whose sail read “No G7” floated by, as sunbathers and swimmers basked under blue skies.
Swiss and French authorities have deployed thousands of police to provide security for the three-day summit starting Monday in the resort town of Evian-les-Bains, France. The leaders are set to discuss issues including the Middle East, Ukraine and global economic imbalances.
Authorities have blocked off roads, banned unauthorized gatherings and pledged financial support for businesses who could be hit by unrest. Scores of businesses and shops have boarded up their storefronts with wooden panels as a precaution — leery of upheaval that left a trail of damage in Geneva during a similar summit in Evian in 2003. Only seven of the 35 roadway border crossings will remain open.
Demonstrators have been gathering for days in advance of Sunday's march in Geneva, the largest city in the area and designated gathering spot for activists who oppose the G7.
A flotilla of around 20 boats appeared on Lake Geneva off the coast of Evian on Saturday, displaying anti-G7 and pro-Palestinian banners. Some 20 protesters were detained on Friday evening, according to Swiss media reports.
Earlier, between 100 and 150 people had gathered in Geneva for a protest bicycle ride, slowing down traffic and chanting anti-G7 and pro-Palestinian slogans, public broadcaster RTS reported.
Local resident Robin Hedz lamented the “mess” and expressed bafflement about the “wood-wall everywhere,” while acknowledging the memories of the trail of damaged property at the summit over 20 years ago.
France will deploy more than 13,000 police and gendarmerie officers to ensure security in the summit area just across the border. Over 800 French border control officers will be active, up from about 60 normally.
French gendarmes buzzed around in motorboats off the coast of Evian on Saturday, and one officer hoisted up a bulky drone-interception device in a display of the security measures being rolled out for the summit.
Protests are nothing new around such elite gatherings. This time, activists want to demonstrate frustration with Trump’s leadership on issues as diverse as tariffs, the war in Iran and the climate, or even highlight his past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“We are very afraid of the policy and the politics of Mr. Trump and also of the other leaders of the G7, because they are fighting, making war all over the place," said Francoise Nyffeler, spokesperson for the NoG7 coalition, which has organized the demonstration and march on Sunday.
"The planet is in danger and we are very scared about it and we want to protest and say that the people of the world are against their policies,” she added.
Associated Press video journalist Oleg Cetinic contributed to this report.
Protestors begin to gather in Geneva, Switzerland, with banners and signs during a demonstration, Sunday, June 14, 2026, ahead of the G7 summit scheduled to take place in France June 15-17. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
People gather and swim on Lake Geneva, Switzerland, as a sailboat with a "No G7" banner sails by, Sunday, June 14, 2026, ahead of the G7 summit scheduled to take place in France June 15-17. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Oxfam's satirical 'big heads' of the G7 leaders depicting French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump pose, in Evian-les-Bains, France, Sunday, June 14, 2026, ahead of the G7 summit scheduled to take place in France June 15-17. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A man rides his bicycle in front of a mural, ahead of expected protests for the G7 summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
French police officers check cars crossing the border between Geneva and the French town of Gaillard, France, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, ahead of the upcoming G7 summit due to take place June 15-17 in the town of Evian-les-Bains. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
Pedestrians walk past the boarded-up windows of a shop, ahead of expected protests for the G7 summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
French military boats patrol Lake Geneva in Evian-les-Bains, eastern France, Thursday, June 11, 2026, ahead of the G7 summit scheduled to take place June 15-17. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
Construction workers board up a shop window, ahead of expected protests for the G7 summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
