ChatGPT Tells All: “Predicting”/Prompting the Future of Media

READ MORE: Unveiling The Mind-Blowing Media Trends Of 2050: An Investigative Adventure Into The Future Of Media (Fahri Karakas)

From holographic broadcasts to neural storytelling and even interplanetary communications, the media landscape of 2050 will be an immersive, algorithmically customized, and boundary-pushing experience.

At least according to AI.

Fahri Karakas, associate professor of Business & Leadership at the University of East Anglia in the UK, had the (excellent) idea to prompt ChatGPT 4 to make predictions about the future of media, and the ideas the machine came up with are mind blowing in so much as they do not seem at all like science fiction.

Responding to a prompt by Karakas for “Media trends of 2050,” the AI asks us to imagine watching TV or a live sports event with holographic images projected right into our living room. Thanks to advancements in neural networking and AI, video content will be generated in real time by analyzing the preferences and emotions of individual readers.

That’s not far fetched and neither is the idea of interplanetary media given the rocket into orbit of several commercial space initiatives and the planned missions to the Moon and Mars. In 25 years, “interplanetary communication networks will enable real-time news, entertainment, and cultural exchanges between different colonies and settlements across our solar system,” the AI predicts.

In 2050, synthetic media stars will take center stage, says ChatGPT 4. AI-generated characters with unique personalities and appearances will become cultural icons, captivating audiences in movies, music, and even influencing fashion trends.

Media platforms will implement advanced AI algorithms that understand our preferences, values, and emotions. These algorithms will curate content across different mediums (articles, videos, podcasts) specifically tailored to our tastes, saving hours of scrolling and searching. Genetic tests will reveal our predispositions towards certain genres, styles, or creators, resulting in highly curated content recommendations and personalized media experiences for each individual.

Our clothing will incorporate media capabilities, “allowing users to display digital content, share messages, and interact with others through their garments.”

ChatGPT 4 invites us to imagine being able to change the design of our clothes with a few taps on your wrist and conveying emotions through animated patterns.

Individuals will have the option to “micro-dose media,” consuming bite-sized content experiences designed to boost mood, enhance focus, or provide relaxation. These personalized micro-experiences will be carefully crafted, offering a tailored media diet that suits individual needs and desires.

And of course, in the future, social media experiences will extend beyond the screen. Users will be able to physically immerse themselves in virtual reality environments, attending parties, concerts, and interacting with friends from around the world, blurring the lines between physical and digital reality.

Karakas also asked the AI to imagine what the media ecosystem looks like in 2050. To no surprise, the machine reckons that the traditional media industry has undergone a profound transformation.

“Traditional television networks and print publications have largely become relics of the past. With the ubiquitous adoption of AR/VR technologies, media consumption has transitioned into an immersive and personalized experience. Users can now create their own tailored media environments, blurring the lines between reality and fiction, and leaving behind the one-size-fits-all approach that defined earlier iterations of media consumption.”

Rather than relying on traditional screens, individuals now access media through smart contact lenses or eyewear that overlays digital content onto their physical environment.

In 2050, there has been a seismic shift from passive consumption to active participation in media creation. User-generated content (UGC) has become the “lifeblood” of the media ecosystem, with individuals sharing their stories, opinions, and experiences.

Social media platforms have evolved into immersive multi-sensory spaces, allowing users to curate their media channels and generate content through neural interfaces that directly translate thoughts into digital form.

If you believe the AI, this “democratization of media production” has transformed the dynamics between creators and consumers, fostering a new era of collaboration and shared narratives. Users will become active participants, exploring dynamic environments, and shaping the outcome of the story through their choices and actions.

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Much like in Minority Report, augmented reality advertising will blend with our surroundings. AR glasses or contact lenses will overlay digital content onto our physical world, providing personalized ads tailored to our preferences and location as we go about our daily lives.

Journalism and news media will also see a transformative shift. This includes ubiquitous AI news anchors and nanobots “capable of infiltrating high-risk situations, capturing visual data, and transmitting information in real-time.

According to ChatGPT 4, this technology will provide unparalleled reporting from conflict zones, natural disasters, and other dangerous environments.

By 2050, news will not only be delivered through traditional written articles or broadcast segments, but also through immersive virtual reality experiences. People will be able to “step into the news,” witness events firsthand, and interact with virtual objects.

Journalists and anyone else won’t need to use a keyboard anymore, either. Instead of typing or even speaking, expect people to be able to communicate directly through thoughts. That’s because brain-computer interfaces will become the norm, “allowing us to transmit ideas, emotions, and even memories to others. This technology will revolutionize storytelling, as authors can share their stories directly from their minds to the readers.”

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