There used to be a point when video felt like the most human thing to exist on the internet, on social media and on T.V. When a person spoke in a video, you could see their eyes move so naturally, everything was as real as it gets. If they talked about something that was emotional to them, you could hear their voice shake a little and see the sincerity and authenticity of what they were trying to say
Videos weren't polished or perfect but you could bet your life that it was real. That’s why people stopped scrolling and watched. That’s why people cared about the content.
Now, I watch videos that are perfectly well made and something about it doesn’t feel right. The lighting is good, the voice sounds normal and pretty inviting, the face looks friendly, but apparently none of it is real. They aren’t real people, they are just codes, AI videos. They never lived the parts of the stories they are telling. I was impressed at first when seeing how far AI has come. The way the lips moved, the tone of voice, the pacing, it looked like the real thing. After a while though, it turned to plastic. Literally like standing in front of a wax figure that smiles back at you.
I know camera men who are friends of mine that have spent years putting a camera in front of people that didn't asked for a spotlight. Just normal people who were trying to build something, survive something, change something. They never needed a script. The camera guy just had to listen.
It is an unusual experience to sit across from someone and just let them talk. Their truth comes out, even in the pauses. What’s strange now is that people are giving that up so quickly. The reality takes time. You have to meet people, you have to earn their trust. Pretending or being fake is faster, easier and cheaper. But when everything looks real and nothing feels real, people start to back away. They stop trusting. And then, even the real stuff suffers. Even if an AI is spitting out facts, people will find it more difficult to trust it than an actual person with reputation and millions of subscribers.
I think people still want to believe what they are seeing. But they have to feel like someone is at least still attempting to be truthful. Even if it is not perfect. Maybe especially if it isn't perfect.
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