I’ve tried using “AI” based plugins for mixing/mastering audio and songs. It can be really hit or miss with the quality of its results, so it’s nothing to lean on too heavily, but it’s great for using as a jumping off point or for giving you something to replicate yourself (mix wise) with other plugins and improve on with your own knowledge.

It’s got a ways to go in the mixing/mastering area, but it’s already leaps and bounds better than just 3-4 years ago.

I think when a studio invests as much as they have in a household name product with mass appeal, they do this kind of marketing. I’m not saying this with any sources or anything to back up, but thinking of how Star Wars and other similar titles will market their brand on anything and everything (including literal tangerines with star wars branding), I think this is the norm for something of this caliber and potential.

no businesses ever get better after they peak

I’m in no way arguing or refuting anything you said, but isn’t it standard for something to not get better after it peaks? Maybe I misunderstood that part of your comment.