As technology like AI makes the digital world more saturated and inauthentic, people will increasingly crave genuine, in-person interactions and experiences like live events, local gatherings, and hobbies.
Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel calls his focus on live events "the opposite of an AI bet." The logic is that as AI makes digital content abundant, the scarcity and value of real-world, in-person human experiences will skyrocket. This is a powerful counter-narrative that leverages the AI trend to its advantage.
As online spaces are degraded by bots, the value of real-world community and live events is skyrocketing. Disney appointing its head of parks as its next leader signals a strategic corporate shift, prioritizing tangible, human-centric connection as the most defensible and valuable asset in an increasingly artificial world.
As screens fill with increasingly "artificial" AI-generated content, Brian Chesky believes people will crave genuine, real-world interactions more than ever. This counter-trend, evidenced by the rising popularity of concerts and travel, creates a huge tailwind for businesses that facilitate offline connection.
Contrary to fears that AI would devalue events, it has amplified their importance. As digital spaces become saturated with AI-generated content, conferences and meetups are becoming the primary venue for authentic human interaction, original ideas, and building genuine trust.
As AI drives the marginal cost of digital content to zero, unique, in-person events become increasingly valuable. This is a strategic bet on the enduring human need for social connection and status, which cannot be digitally replicated. Value shifts from the digital to the physical.
As AI makes digital content increasingly artificial and indistinguishable from reality, the value of authentic, in-person human connection will skyrocket. The most powerful counter-position to the AI trend isn't less technology, but rather using technology to facilitate more tangible, "real" world interactions.
Brian Chesky posits that as the digital world becomes increasingly artificial, the value of authentic, in-person experiences will skyrocket. The true counter-position to the AI trend isn't different tech, but the "real world." This creates a massive opportunity for businesses focused on tangible human connection.
As digital interactions become saturated with AI and feel less authentic, professionals will seek genuine connection. This will drive a resurgence in small, local, and niche in-person events like masterminds and community meetups, moving beyond large, impersonal conferences.
As work becomes more dominated by AI and digital interactions, professionals are experiencing an "existential crisis" and actively seeking genuine human connection. This creates a significant opportunity for in-person events that prioritize community over just content, fulfilling a need for real-world interaction.
Society is polarizing into two dominant modes. One end is hyper-technology and AI. The other is a massive resurgence of analog, old-school activities like festivals, door-knocking, and in-person connection. This creates a huge opportunity for high-touch, human-centric businesses to thrive.