Joe Russo points out that Gen Z is already gleefully embracing the potential of AI, and anecdotally, I’m not sure he’s 100% correct here. My 20 year old nephew is an avid gamer, but he still likes to kick back and watch movies or TV with his friends. He goes to theaters sparingly, but he goes. Will he disappear down the AI rabbit hole once Russo’s predicted future arrives? Maybe. But I don’t see it happening right now.
I am 49 years old, which makes me a Methuselah in technological terms. I’m not a Luddite, but I’m a human being and I understand what you’re missing here. The joy of creation is unmatched. I will never forget the euphoria I experienced as a teenager upon finishing the draft of my first screenplay. I get a buzz every time I submit an article like the one you’re reading.
I think of the scene from Robert Redford’s “Quiz Show” in which Paul Scofield’s Mark Van Doren shares what he thinks is a piece of celebratory cake with his son Charles (Ralph Fiennes), who is about to finish his book. He understands the euphoria, but Charles reveals his dismay. “Something on your mind?”
Mark will soon discover that Charles has corrupted himself. His daughter has used his reputation as a public intellectual to sell a lie to the American public. “Quiz Show” is about smart and principled people who participate in their own downfall to perpetuate what seems like a white lie. Right now, there are millions of smart people interacting with ChatGPT because they feel like it’s a harmless indulgence.