The world of technology is generating some interesting propositions. When looking towards the future, we can envision many things coming into being.
Some of them are far-fetched, not yet possible other than by using our wild imaginations. Others might be natural progressions of where technology already took us.
When we see those heading Big Tech, people like Mark Zuckerberg, they work on things that help to shape the future. Actually, we all do this in some way. This takes on added meaning in the digital realm as we impact things with every online entry we make.
As always, Zuckerberg is apt to draw some attention when he makes forecasts or predications.
In an interview he recently discussed the tools being created and how they will benefit content creators.
Is this nonsense, something toutedsimply because he is in a dream world or is there a realistic possibility? We have to keep in mind, he is far from alone in this. Google also promoted similar concepts when talking about what they are developing.
Image generated by Ideogram
AI Clones
Will we see a time when we have AI clones?
The answer is yes. In fact, it might already be here. There are some who are using this technology to "clone" themselves. Naturally, since we are dealing with an embryotic stage, a lot of this is poor in quality. However, this will only improve.
Zuckerberg envisions AI helping content creators leverage the data that is out there, coupled with algorithms that personalize it, and create content based upon that person's activity.
“I think there’s going to be a huge unlock where basically every creator can pull in all their information from social media and train these systems to reflect their values and their objectives and what they’re trying to do, and then people can can interact with that,” Zuckerberg said. “It’ll be almost like this artistic artifact that creators create that people can kind of interact with in different ways.”
We know that avatars are already a thing. In the future, these will become more "lifelike" as image technology improves. This will eventually be tied to video, where the avatar will more around, capturing the nuances of a human.
So this seems like a plausible outcome, at least in theory. How the technology evolves is another matter completely.
Hundreds of Billions Up For Grabs
Due to the rise in social media, we have a change in terminology.
Most reading this article will likely presume we are focusing upon social media. After all, content creators are those on YouTube, trying to eek out a living.
While this is certainly applicable, and it is wise to focus at the individual level, this is much bigger.
To me, we need to frame this in context of those who are at the top of the content creation food chain. This is where traditional entertainment is once again in the crosshairs.
Consider what this does to their business model if individuals are starting to generate an even greater amount of content, driven by AI meaning it enhances the quality of what they can produce.
While it wasn't mentioned, the flipside of this is even more important.
If the model is trained on the entire Internet, then preferences and tendencies are known. Zuckerberg alludes to this when referring to the content creator. However, this also applies to everyone else.
What this means is content can be created for specific tastes. The "audience" can also have their profiles matched up. This is recommend engines on steroids.
Certainly, this will be available, if it is created, to major Hollywood studios. The problem is that everyone else will have access to it also.
A Lack of Personal Touch
Many detest this idea because they believe it lacks the personal touch. In fact, this brings up a larger issue outside the scope of this article.
However, when we look at technology, we see a lot of generational issues entering. Basically, people frame things based upon their reference points. Much of this is tied to the generation they grew up and lived in.
Older people are more likely to contest this idea than GenZ. To them, they are accustomed to the digital world. In many ways, this is what is "real" to them.
Many of the Baby Boomers feel real is only the physical. This is what they knew. Of course, the will read a digital document the same as a paper one. Is that real?
This is a discussion that was held not too long ago.
When texting started to become popular, many resisted it claiming it was not personal. A text is not human interaction was the basic assertion. In other words, without a human voice, it was not true communication.
There are some people who still feel that way. It is not difficult to guess the age bracket they most likely reside in.
Today, the majority of those with mobile phones text in some manner. While it might not be as personal as a phone call, it is not viewed as non-human engagement.
It is also likely, when the phone started to become popular, that many questioned it as interaction since it "wasn't in person". After all, if you can't see the person, is it real?
In Conclusion
Regardless of where things stand, people will adapt. There will be a few who completely resist but Father Time tends to have plans for them.
To map out precisely how this will unfold is impossible. We do, nevertheless, have a general direction of the trend. If personal AI assistants are being designed, which those are being worked upon, it is not a major step to what Zuckerberg is proposing.
Nothing operates in a vacuum. Once the tools are there, they keep expanding for even more utility.
Many people are using AI to respond to emails, answering basic questions based upon its training. Those who are busy feel this is a great tool. Do the people on the other end reject it if they are getting the information needed?
Of course not.
Even when we know it is a bot replying, we do not care if we get what we need.