September 12, 2023
Yes, AI will become the queen and king (the "Qeeng") of all digital media. From radio, big screen, television, podcast, and augmented reality (AR), AI celebrities will gradually displace human ones. Below read a little about these technologies and easy predictions about the upcoming AI celebrities.
RadioIn the 1860s, Maxwell's equations theoretically predicted the existence of electromagnetic waves, which form the foundation of radio wave propagation. By the late 1880s, German physicist Hertz experimentally confirmed Maxwell's theories by generating and detecting radio waves in his lab.
Guglielmo Marconi, often dubbed the "father of radio," was the first to realize the commercial and practical potential of radio waves for wireless telegraphy. In 1901, he achieved the first transatlantic wireless signal of morse code between Cornwall, UK, and Newfoundland, Canada. In 1906, Reginald Fessenden made a significant early broadcast, including voice and music, on Christmas Eve.
The period between the 1920s to the 1940s is often referred to as radio's "Golden Age." The first commercial radio station, KDKA in Pittsburgh, began broadcasting in 1920. Stations soon mushroomed across the U.S., and radio became a household staple. Programming during this era included news broadcasts, dramas, comedies, variety shows, and live music. FM (Frequency Modulation) introduced in the 1930s by Edwin Armstrong offered better sound quality than the traditional AM (Amplitude Modulation).
After World War II, television emerged as a new medium and started to eclipse radio's dominance for entertainment. Radio pivoted to formats less suitable for TV, like talk shows, news, and, most notably, music. FM music radio became dominant by the 1970s. By the late 20th and early 21st century, satellite radio and internet radio emerged, offering listeners a broader array of options and a global reach.
The period between the 1920s to the 1940s is often referred to as radio's "Golden Age." The first commercial radio station, KDKA in Pittsburgh, began broadcasting in 1920. Stations soon mushroomed across the U.S., and radio became a household staple. Programming during this era included news broadcasts, dramas, comedies, variety shows, and live music. FM (Frequency Modulation) introduced in the 1930s by Edwin Armstrong offered better sound quality than the traditional AM (Amplitude Modulation).
Even in today's day and age dominated by digital communication, radio retains its market mostly due to car radio and commuters.
The Big Screen in Movie Theaters
Before actual films were taken to the screen, there were devices like the "zoetrope" and "praxinoscope" which created the illusion of movement by showcasing a sequence of drawings or photographs in rapid succession.
In the late 19th century, in the USA, Thomas Edison and his assistant William Kennedy Laurie Dickson developed the Kinetoscope, a device where one person at a time could watch moving pictures through a peephole. Almost simultaneously in France, the Lumière brothers, Louis and Auguste, invented the Cinématographe. Unlike the Kinetoscope, the Cinématographe could project moving images onto a screen, allowing multiple people to watch simultaneously. In 1895, he Lumière brothers showcased a series of short films to a paying audience, marking one of the first public film screenings.
In the late 19th century, in the USA, Thomas Edison and his assistant William Kennedy Laurie Dickson developed the Kinetoscope, a device where one person at a time could watch moving pictures through a peephole. Almost simultaneously in France, the Lumière brothers, Louis and Auguste, invented the Cinématographe. Unlike the Kinetoscope, the Cinématographe could project moving images onto a screen, allowing multiple people to watch simultaneously. In 1895, he Lumière brothers showcased a series of short films to a paying audience, marking one of the first public film screenings.
As the technology spread, filmmakers began experimenting with narrative techniques, leading to the birth of silent films. These silent films often had live music accompaniment during screenings. The late 1920s saw the arrival of "talkies" or films with synchronized sound, beginning with the likes of "The Jazz Singer" in 1927. While early films were black and white, various experimental color processes were developed. Technicolor, introduced in the 1920s and refined in the 1930s, became the most popular. The "Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938) and "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) are early examples of its widespread use.
By the early 20th century, the U.S. film industry started to centralize in the Los Angeles area, benefitting from its favorable climate and range of landscapes. The Hollywood district soon became synonymous with American cinema. While Hollywood became a major center for film production, countries worldwide developed their cinema cultures and industries. From the expressive films of German Expressionism to the musicals of Bollywood in India, cinema became a global phenomenon.
Television
Before what we recognize as modern television, there were mechanical systems developed in the 1880s and 1890s that could scan, transmit, and reproduce images sequentially. In the 1920s, John Logie Baird, a Scottish engineer, showcased early demonstrations of mechanical television and is credited with the first publicly displayed real-time moving images.
In the late 1920s and 1930s, Philo T. Farnsworth and Vladimir Zworykin independently developed the electronic television system. Farnsworth's Image Dissector and Zworykin's Iconoscope were pioneering camera tubes that laid the foundation for the television as we know it.
The 1930s and 1940s witnessed the establishment of television stations, with the BBC in the UK initiating its regular service in 1936. The U.S. saw its early broadcasters like NBC and CBS setting up television stations, but World War II slowed the global rollout of the medium.
Post-World War II, the 1950s became television's "Golden Age", especially in the U.S. Dramas, comedies, and variety shows populated the airwaves. "I Love Lucy," for example, became a significant hit. While early television was black and white, the drive for color began early on. The U.S. approved the NTSC color standard in 1953, paving the way for widespread color broadcasting later on. The invention of the remote control also in the 1950s and made widely available later on revolutionized "couch potato" viewer habits. The latter half of the 20th century also saw the rise of cable television, offering viewers more channels and specialized content.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, countries began transitioning from analog to digital broadcasting, improving image and sound quality. The advent of flat-screen technologies like LCD and OLED transformed the physical appearance of the TV set. With the rise of the internet, the 21st century ushered in streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, revolutionizing content consumption. Modern televisions are often "smart," with integrated internet and the ability to run apps. The line between traditional broadcast, cable, and internet streaming has become increasingly blurred.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, countries began transitioning from analog to digital broadcasting, improving image and sound quality. The advent of flat-screen technologies like LCD and OLED transformed the physical appearance of the TV set. With the rise of the internet, the 21st century ushered in streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu, revolutionizing content consumption. Modern televisions are often "smart," with integrated internet and the ability to run apps. The line between traditional broadcast, cable, and internet streaming has become increasingly blurred.
Podcasts
Podcasts, essentially on-demand internet radio shows, have seen an explosive rise in the digital age. Here's a brief overview of their journey:
1. Precursors to Podcasting. Internet Radio: Before podcasts became popular, internet radio stations began streaming in the 1990s. This was essentially broadcasting over the internet rather than traditional airwaves.
2. Birth of Podcasting. RSS + Enclosures: Podcasting became possible due to a combination of RSS (Really Simple Syndication) with audio file enclosures. This allowed audio files to be distributed and automatically downloaded to personal computers. Adam Curry & Dave Winer: In 2004, former MTV video jockey Adam Curry and software developer Dave Winer are often credited with developing the first podcasting tools and infrastructure. Curry's show "Daily Source Code" is one of the earliest known podcasts.
3. Popularity and Growth. In 2005, Apple added podcast support to iTunes, giving the medium a massive boost. They provided a platform for discovery, listening, and distribution. What began primarily as tech-focused or individual musings quickly expanded. Podcasts began covering diverse topics like storytelling, news, education, comedy, and virtually every niche imaginable.
4. Rise of the Narrative Podcast. "Serial": In 2014, the podcast "Serial," an investigative journalism series about a real-life crime, became a cultural phenomenon. Its success brought many new listeners to the medium and showcased the potential for podcast storytelling.
5. Monetization and Professionalism. As audience numbers grew, so did monetization strategies. Advertising, sponsorships, listener donations, and subscription models have all become staples in the podcasting world. This has led to a mix of independent creators and large professional networks producing content.
6. Ongoing Evolution. Diversity. The low barrier to entry means that podcasting has become a platform for a plethora of voices, including those often underrepresented in traditional media. Media companies, celebrities, and even tech giants like Spotify and Google have delved into podcasting, either producing their content or providing platforms for distribution. Podcasts are now experimenting with formats, from immersive 3D audio experiences to interactive shows.
The story of podcasts is emblematic of the digital age – an age where content is democratized, and anyone with a voice and a microphone can potentially reach a global audience. With their growth, podcasts have fundamentally altered the audio media landscape, giving listeners unparalleled choice and creators unmatched freedom.
Augmented Reality (AR) headsets overlay digital information on the real world, offering a blend of the physical and the virtual. Over the years, they've become an exciting frontier in both consumer electronics and industrial applications.
The concept of augmented reality has been around for decades, but its early manifestations were primarily in science fiction. In the real world, the 1960s saw the development of the first head-mounted display, "The Sword of Damocles," by Ivan Sutherland, which was more virtual reality than AR.
The term "Augmented Reality" was coined by Tom Caudell in the early 1990s. During this period, AR was primarily used for industrial and military applications, such as aircraft maintenance. With the proliferation of smartphones equipped with cameras, AR experiences became more accessible in the 2000s. Though not headsets, apps using AR began to appear on platforms like iOS and Android.
Launched in 2013, Google Glass was one of the first consumer-targeted AR headsets. While it faced challenges related to privacy concerns and a high price point, it paved the way for other tech giants to explore the domain.
Debuting in 2016, Microsoft's HoloLens was targeted primarily at developers and enterprise applications. It provided a more immersive AR experience, with holographic computing and robust spatial recognition. Companies like Snap introduced Spectacles, glasses that integrated AR elements primarily for capturing content. Other startups and companies also began exploring lightweight AR glasses that looked more like everyday eyewear. Beyond consumer applications, AR headsets found use in industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics. For example, workers could see overlay instructions while assembling machinery.
This year Apple announced it Vision Pro AR Headset, which will be available for purchase early next year. It has a high price point, and an even higher promise of beginning a new phase for the AR headset industry segment. As hardware is miniaturized and software becomes faster and more sophisticated, AR headsets may soon become as commonplace as the smartphones of today. Once the capabilities of the Vision Pro are reduced to the size of normal everyday wearable glasses, and eventually to the size of contact lenses, humanity will be at yet another digital level.
The term "Augmented Reality" was coined by Tom Caudell in the early 1990s. During this period, AR was primarily used for industrial and military applications, such as aircraft maintenance. With the proliferation of smartphones equipped with cameras, AR experiences became more accessible in the 2000s. Though not headsets, apps using AR began to appear on platforms like iOS and Android.
Launched in 2013, Google Glass was one of the first consumer-targeted AR headsets. While it faced challenges related to privacy concerns and a high price point, it paved the way for other tech giants to explore the domain.
Debuting in 2016, Microsoft's HoloLens was targeted primarily at developers and enterprise applications. It provided a more immersive AR experience, with holographic computing and robust spatial recognition. Companies like Snap introduced Spectacles, glasses that integrated AR elements primarily for capturing content. Other startups and companies also began exploring lightweight AR glasses that looked more like everyday eyewear. Beyond consumer applications, AR headsets found use in industries like healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics. For example, workers could see overlay instructions while assembling machinery.
This year Apple announced it Vision Pro AR Headset, which will be available for purchase early next year. It has a high price point, and an even higher promise of beginning a new phase for the AR headset industry segment. As hardware is miniaturized and software becomes faster and more sophisticated, AR headsets may soon become as commonplace as the smartphones of today. Once the capabilities of the Vision Pro are reduced to the size of normal everyday wearable glasses, and eventually to the size of contact lenses, humanity will be at yet another digital level.
AI, from deepfakes to deepreal celebrities.
We are not talking about deepfakes meant to fool you. We are talking about AI personalities that you know are 100% digital AI creations and that are not real. Yet you follow them because they entertain you, educate you, and enlighten you better than any human can.
Yes, we are talking about AI displacing human media celebrities. AI displacing human entertainments for good. AI digital characters that are better performers than humans. AI characters that look and sound completely human to your brain. AI characters that act or improvise better than any human performer.
It will take significantly longer for AI to look like a human in the physical (non digital) world. AI will be first integrated into physical robots. Think about a real life C3PO from Star Wars. This will be a great companion, but it will not look human to your eyes. Eventually, many decades or perhaps centuries into the future, AI can look 100% human like in the Westworld HBO TV show. That will take significantly longer to achieve and humans may be somewhat different also by then.
Going back to digital (non-physical) AI entertainers, even with today's technology, it is easy to conceptualize AI celebrities and entertainers. Think about when ChatGPT and Bard become podcasters, which may be in the next year. They will incredibly popular and get millions of downloads weekly. Imagine the digital landscape in 2030. Humans celebrities and performers will be like zoo monkeys in comparison to digital AI ones.
Think about it. Even Hollywood will be disrupted by AI. We tell you. This is just beginning. Invest now. The best is yet to come.
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