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Alexis Ohanian Sees Live Entertainment Thriving Amid AI Advancements

Alexis Ohanian, the cofounder of Reddit and founder of the venture capital firm Seven Seven Six, shares his perspective on the future of entertainment in an age increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. During a recent appearance on the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast, Ohanian articulated his belief that the allure of live theater and sports events will see a significant revival even as AI transforms the landscape of entertainment.

Ohanian anticipates that technological innovations will change the way on-screen content is delivered, making it “better, faster, cheaper, and more dynamic.” He envisions a future where every screen is tailored to individual preferences, presenting viewers with precisely what they desire at any given moment. Yet, he cautions that this deluge of highly curated content might lead audiences to yearn for the more straightforward, tactile experiences of the past. “A part of our humanity will miss, you know, thousands of years ago when we were sitting around a campfire and that great storyteller was doing the voices and the impressions,” he remarked.

At 41, having co-founded Reddit in 2005, Ohanian predicts a resurgence in live, in-person events as a reaction to AI’s highly refined offerings. He asserts, “I actually bet 10 years from now live theater will be more popular than ever.” According to him, the communal experience of being in a theater—sharing a space with others as they experience authentic human performances—will become increasingly desirable as a counterpoint to the polished immediacy of AI-generated content.

Ohanian extends this rationale to the realm of sports, underscoring the unique connection created by the physical presence of athletes. He insists, “We need humans doing that. We need to feel their pain and their success and their triumphs. Those are the areas that get me most hopeful.” The emotional resonance of witnessing human effort and achievement in real-time can’t be replicated by artificial entities, he argues.

Moreover, Ohanian maintains that the rise of AI will not diminish the importance of human empathy. He emphasized its relevance in an increasingly automated world, asserting that “no matter what jobs robots take over, human empathy will remain essential.” This reflection on the enduring value of emotional intelligence speaks to a future where human connections continue to hold significant weight, regardless of technological advancements.

Source
www.broadwayworld.com