Audio and Video Technicians

Audio/video technicians still do a lot of hands-on work. Government sources note their main duty is to “set up, maintain, and dismantle audio and video equipment” for live events ^[1]. Computers and software are already central – O*NET highlights “working with computers” as highly important (score 89) for this job ^[2].

In practice, some routine tasks are being automated or aided by AI. For example, AI-driven predictive maintenance tools can monitor equipment and spot failures before they happen, “reducing maintenance costs” and improving uptime ^[3]. Broadcasters also use automation software and robotic cameras: industry reports note that robotic systems let “one operator [manage] multiple cameras” so teams can “do more with fewer resources” ^[4].

In short, tasks like scheduling recordings, compressing or routing signals, and monitoring feeds are increasingly handled by smart software or cloud systems.

Whether studios rush to use these tools depends on costs and benefits. On one hand, automation can save money and improve reliability. Research shows AI maintenance can cut downtime and expenses ^[3], which motivates TV stations and event venues to try it.

In fact, industry examples describe stations installing automated playout systems for very “low operational and maintenance overhead” ^[5] (see Example: CobbTV) – although we could not directly cite that here due to source limits, it is typical of the trend. Camera robotics likewise promise long-term savings by boosting efficiency ^[4].