AI is making human connection more valuable than ever by increasing the worth of physical experiences that technology cannot easily replicate. The author argues that convenience, abundance and digital filtering can weaken deep relationships and serendipity. He says people increasingly seek in-person events, travel and shared experiences as AI makes digital content cheaper and easier to produce. The piece concludes that the next wave of innovation may focus on building places and experiences that draw people back into the physical world.
A customer looks at a board with the menu at AGI Bar in Beijing's in Zhongguancun district on Aug. 9. AFP-TNS
Technology changes what we value, often in ways we don’t see coming.
This may be one of the most important economic consequences of the artificial-intelligence revolution.
The internet made information abundant. Social media made it possible to connect with almost anyone. AI is now making digital experiences cheaper, faster and easier to produce. The consequence may be counterintuitive: As digital abundance grows, the physical experiences that technology cannot easily replicate will become more valuable.
