The future is...weird.

In hindsight, I should have been a futurist.

There’s something exciting about always looking ahead, imagining how society will adapt to emerging technologies and trends, and predicting the impact they will have on work. And the absolute best part about being a futurist is that no one can ever tell you that you’re wrong. If something doesn’t pan out the way you predicted, you can simply shrug and say, “It just hasn’t happened…?yet.” Or you can point to another variable and claim a sliding doors moment or even invoke the multiverse. So long as you predict one thing correctly at some point in your career, you have earned your place in the Visionary Hall of Fame. Well played, Nostradamus.

When it comes to new technology, and AI in particular, it seems that everyone is a futurist. We all seek to predict how AI will impact work, whether jobs will be lost or gained (or both), and how humanity will adjust its trajectory now that the AI genie is out of the bottle. Predictions exist on a wide spectrum, everything from “passing fad” to “Skynet is real,” and there are a subset of pundits who predict that AI will?destroy the world, with creativity and art as its first victim. Before you dismiss the idea outright, consider the current?WGA/SAG strike, where one of the key points of contention is the right to use likenesses of actors (created through AI) in perpetuity. Never underestimate the siren call of money over performance, and never underestimate the prescience of a?Black Mirror episode.?

AI-generated art is beautiful (and controversial), creating truly amazing images from mere prompts. After so many friends shared LinkedIn success stories, I decided to jump on the AI bandwagon to enhance my headshot. Not only would I reflect my inner beauty, but I could evaluate the accuracy of experts touting this brave new world.?

Here’s my original headshot. I asked AI to improve it.

This is what AI presented as an improved headshot.

?

As much as I appreciate the attempt, the headshot example is horrifying, ridiculously funny, and a perfect microcosm of both the possibilities and the limitations of today’s AI. It is constantly evolving, as both the technology and our ability to leverage it continues to improve. I imagine this is as much user prompt error as AI output, so we both have work to do.?

My cartoonish features aside, I for one plan to embrace my inner futurist and make bold predictions and see how they turn out. Even if they result in something bizarre, humanity remains on pretty solid footing.?

With warm regards,?

— Mark Stelzner

Founder/Managing Principal/Wide-Eyed Futurist in Training, IA

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