AI Dominated NAB 2025—But Mobile Filmmaking Finally Got Its Respect
Observations from the 2025 NAB Show Floor
Often, at NAB, there is a new technology that is all the buzz. This year was the Ai year. So many innovations had some level of Ai. There is so much Ai in post-production; the new versions of Adobe Premiere and DaVinci Resolve have so many Ai tools.
Speaking of editing software. Adobe and Blackmagic Design had big booths with lots of innovation, and right next to them was the sad and small booth for the once-great Avid. But Avid did have some great editors showing how they cut such films as “Gladiator II.”
I spent much of my time looking at innovations for mobile filmmaking. I was happy to see that Sennheiser, the great audio technology company, finally had a mobile lav kit. To me, this was about acceptance of mobile technology. Yeah, we finally got the big boy! In years past, I would stop by and ask what they had for mobile, and they would say, “Why would we do that?”
“Why would they do that?”—the answer is simple: because creators demanded it. Today’s filmmakers, journalists, and educators aren’t always working from a studio or a set. They’re in classrooms, on city streets, in the middle of protests, or halfway up a mountain with a smartphone in hand. Audio tools that were once reserved for high-end cameras are now expected to work seamlessly with mobile devices. It’s not about cutting corners—it’s about meeting creators where they are. In a world where storytelling is faster, scrappier, and more democratized than ever, adaptability isn’t a compromise—it’s a necessity.
I saw some great new gimbals from DJI and Hohem. Both have next-level tracking technology. There were great new lavs for mobile from Hollyland, DJI, and Saramonic.
There were some great new cages and adapters from SmallRig as well.
AI is clearly reshaping the post-production pipeline—but the real story might be the quiet revolution in mobile filmmaking. As major players like Sennheiser and DJI invest in mobile-first tools, it’s a signal that phone-based production isn’t just viable—it’s respected. For indie creators, educators, journalists, and on-the-go storytellers, this shift means more professional-grade options at a fraction of the cost. NAB 2025 confirmed it: the future of filmmaking is both intelligent and mobile.
This was a great NAB for the little phone universe.
I had a great time but brought home a cough!
Above is a photo of me with the guys from Ripple Training.
