3 months into 2026 and it’s starting to look like tech founders all had the same new years resolution: get better with money. March has seen the shock announcement of 2 major scale backs for Meta and OpenAI. We’ll dive into the goss, before sharing a channel that’s pushing the boundaries of filmmaking. Stick around for new Uppbeat collections, partner collabs… and Bernie Sanders debating an AI bot? You’ve got to read it to believe it.
Inside March’s multi-billion dollar flops
In what’s been labeled ‘the most expensive “what if?” in technological history’, Meta has announced it’s scaling back its virtual reality (VR) arm of its social platform, Horizon Worlds.
The $80 billion platform was to be just the start of what Zuckerberg calls The Metaverse – ‘the next evolution in social connection and the successor to the mobile Internet.’ Instead, hit with costly VR headsets and poor user experience, Horizon Worlds reportedly failed to attract more than 200k users a month at its peak in 2022.
What’s next → Horizon Worlds will be available for VR in a limited capacity and only for existing games. So if you fancy floating around an abandoned mall from the comfort of your couch… Don't worry, you can still do that.
But Meta isn’t the only one scaling back ambitious plans. 👇
OpenAI has announced it’ll be shutting down its AI video generation app Sora just 3 months after it secured a $1 billion deal with Disney (which has now been cancelled).
From misinformation and racism to copyright infringement, Sora has had its fair share of controversy since its launch in 2024. But experts hint that the real reason for its shock shut down is a cash flow issue. Forbes estimated the Sora app was burning up to $15 million a day, with one expert calling it a “resource black hole.”
The crux of it → Social media platforms aren’t what the founders say they are, they’re how people choose to use them. Or rather, not use them.
Looking ahead → We expect the future to look a lot less like The Metaverse and more like platforms doubling down on what already works. For Meta, that’s a focus on “mobile” over VR, and renewed investment in creators. Whilst OpenAI is thought to be scaling back its video generation tools entirely, instead putting its resources into more profitable ventures like coding and robotics.
Creating with constraints: Ameya’s Realm’s mixed-media challenge
What came first, the creative block or the perfectionism? Pressure to push out perfect content time and time again can often lead to issues in your ideation process. Thankfully, this creator has a novel solution for silencing the inner critic…
YouTuber Ameya (@ameyasrealm) will be publishing a short film every month for the next six months. It sounds counterintuitive, but Ameya believes that creating more freely will prevent her from getting bogged down in the details.
The idea → To post a short film every month for six months with a focus on “action and execution” to prevent spiralling.
The craft → Ameya’s short films combine mixed media (think paper collages and digital illustrations) with footage to create whimsical dreamscapes.
The context → More than ever audiences are craving “a human layer” to their content. Uppbeat partner Pair defines this as “personality, flaws and lived experience”, but it's also a key characteristic of mixed media content which has a unique, hand-crafted appeal.
There’s no doubt Ameya’s content is original. Her behind-the-scenes (BTS) breaks down exactly how she crafts her short films; from building a soundscape from scratch, to the arduous hours spent recording her videos frame by frame.
BTS clips aren't just a clever way to double up your content, they also act as social proof in an internet disillusioned with AI content. The result? Viewers show up to support Ameya not just for her beautiful artwork, but for her commitment to art in the first place.
Build your own realm of creativity:
- Set yourself constraints. A short film a month might be too much for some, but constraints (especially time constraints) can remove the pressure to be perfect, jumpstart your ideation process and even lead to more creative outcomes.
- Focus on physical touches. Make your edit feel home-crafted by adding personal touches like photographs you’ve taken, or hand drawn illustrations and text.
- Sound matters, and should never be an afterthought. Ameya intentionally crafts her short film soundscapes using her own recorded piano music, garage band mixes and clips from royalty-free tracks (like those you find on Uppbeat!).
What are we watching?
We asked our Social Media Manager Jo Tibbles which channel she’s been loving recently and why.
What’s your favorite channel right now? "Sloan Stowe (@SloanStowe). She's a video essayist who analyses TV and film, specifically character writing and how media shapes and reflects society."
3 words to describe them? "Thoughtful. Storyteller. Hyperfixator."
Why do you love them? "Sloan will make you rethink and rewatch a scene from your favorite show with a billion new perspectives. The effort she puts into her videos is always obvious (and appreciated!). She only uploads about once a month because she’s so focused on maintaining quality, and it’s built her this really loyal audience who are always patiently waiting for the next upload."
We think they would love… "Our text templates. Clean, easy-to-read typography is a must-have in every commentary creator's toolkit."
Elsewhere on the web
Watch it to believe it. US Senator Bernie Sanders grills AI Agent Claude on data farming and privacy.
Spectacular, or extremely boring? Markiplier’s horror film, Iron Lung, met with mixed reviews.
“It’s official.” YouTube kicks off collab with FIFA World Cup 2026.
Slightly hypocritical? Pinterest CEO joins call for a social media ban for under 16s.
Fake influencers, real cash prizes. The first ‘AI personality of the year contest’ is running till April 19.
The rise of the ‘yap.’ This “Chat GPT proof” content trend is taking over our feeds.
What can K-pop fandoms teach us? Get the key to your own global empire in our latest deep dive.
Latest Uppdates
Uppbeat is sponsoring the next season of Beyond The Cut with Kev E! Drop him a follow for unique insights into content creation you won’t get anywhere else, like his all-new BTS on full-time content creation.
On the subject of fresh starts, it’s time to give your content a spring clean with Uppbeat’s collection of sunny tracks. Or if you’re feeling inspired, learn how to make your own cinematic short films with tips from Uppbeat partner Tomas Stavik.
