AI Gen & Blockchain Airdrops: Long-term Impact for Indies?

Hey everyone, as a grip, I'm constantly trying to keep an eye on upcoming tech that might change our industry, especially for us independent folks. I wrapped an indie short a few months back where we considered using some AI-generated backgrounds, like what Runway can do, just to stretch the budget a bit. We ended up shooting practical because the VFX supervisor wasn't quite sold on it for our specific vision, but the idea stuck with me.

Now I'm hearing more about things like blockchain airdrops for funding or audience engagement, alongside advancements in AI like Sora. It's exhilarating but also a bit overwhelming. For independent filmmakers who are often scraping by with an FX6 and a couple of Forza 500 IIs, trying to make their vision a reality, which of these '2026' trends do you see having the most practical, lasting impact for us, versus just being a short-lived fad that'll burn out quickly?