Zack Rothwell is on a mission to increase transparency in the film industry. This continues to face criticism of the back-channel business, far apart from both creators and fans. Rothwell, founder and CEO of Apeflix, a distributed AI-powered streaming platform, is pioneering the shift that is supposed to fundamentally transform content discoveries with Ad-Supported Video-On-Demand (AVOD).
“Clarity is important,” Rothwell says. “APEFLIX focuses on using AI to provide authentic recommendations to users.” Combining cutting-edge AI and a deep understanding of film and Web3 technology, Rothwell launched Apeflix, solving the issue that has plagued Streaming Services users and content creators for many years: Content Discovery. The vision that drives Apeflix is to not only simplify the way consumers find content, but also create more value for creators of ecosystems long dominated by opaque algorithms and restrictive gatekeepers.
Transparency through AI: A new era of AVOD
Major streaming platforms use algorithms to provide recommendations based on what the platform wants users to watch. It’s not necessarily something you enjoy or suit. “It’s about getting through the noise and providing content that’s really tailored to what people want, not just platforms that want their own benefits,” says Rothwell. This transparency is central to Rothwell’s vision of transforming the AVOD platform into a user-centric, community-driven space. The audience is not just a consumer, but also an active participant in discovering content.
For Rothwell, AI is not just a tool to improve the user experience, it is a powerful enabler of both transparency and fairness. His AI-driven model provides audiences with authentic content recommendations and reduces the frustration that comes with endless scrolling through streaming platforms. Instead of relying on common, sometimes misleading algorithms, AI can integrate a variety of sources, such as reviews, articles, and community feedback, into unbiased, meaningful suggestions that are suitable for the audience.
Content Creator Privileges: AI as a co-pilot
As the film industry continues to address the meaning of AI, particularly with its automation and content creation, Rothwell argues that AI should be viewed as a tool to increase creator autonomy and creativity. “In filmmaking, AI tools have already been used to streamline labor-intensive tasks such as CGI and VFX, allowing creators to focus on the artistic aspects of the project,” he says. “But it also reduces the time and energy needed to use AI to discover the right content, sell it, and interact with your audience.
This is especially important in an industry where middlemen (distributors, platforms, aggregators) often make up a significant portion of their revenue. “By creating directly on content directly on the platform, creators can create stronger, more sustainable relationships with their fanbase over the long term and maintain stronger, more sustainable relationships,” explains Rothwell. Rason Dretre Developing AI-powered solutions in this field comes from a real desire to improve the efficiency of content creation and help creators connect directly with their audiences.
Revolution of film reviews: Audience engagement
One of Rothwell’s more innovative, AI-driven initiatives is Apeflix’s new film review system. Currently, you can manipulate movie reviews on platforms like IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes, making users uncertain about the reliability of the rating. Rothwell addresses this by developing a more immersive and community-driven review experience. “We’re rethinking how we can use AI to capture reviews,” says Rothwell. “We’re creating AI-driven chatbots that interview users about their viewing experiences, rather than relying on traditional rating systems that can be easily manipulated.” This makes the review process more engaging and accessible, capturing a wide range of opinions and reflecting the diversity of viewers.
Through this approach, Rothwell hopes to democratize the review process, hear more voices and provide more subtle feedback that better reflects the complexity of the film. Goals go beyond simple star ratings to create an interactive platform where users’ experiences and insights shine, giving future viewers a richer understanding of what they are trying to see, while also addressing common issues for many.
Use data to build a creator-centered future
Beyond improvements to recommendations and reviews, Rothwell is also working to integrate data from a variety of sources into a unified platform, changing the way content is discovered. The film and streaming industry has long been closed in terms of data transparency. Competitors in the AVOD space, such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu, maintain close-to-the-bottom audiences and engagement metrics. However, Rothwell sees the future differently.
“We’re at a point where the industry can’t afford to run on silos,” Rothwell argues. “AI helps to gather a variety of data sources and integrate them in ways that benefit everyone, to watch habits, audience feedback, and social media discussions.” Adopting transparency and data sharing in this way means a more open ecosystem where content discoveries are more accurate and creators can see real-time feedback about their work.
Not only is Rothwell building another AVOD platform, it is shaping the future of streaming. One thing is clear as Apeflix continues to push the boundaries of what AI can do in the streaming space. His focus is to build a more creator-centric industry. Follow him to stay up to date on Rothwell’s Journey and the latest developments on Apeflix LinkedIn Or visit him Website.
