On a recent episode of the View+Finders Podcast from Framerate Technologies, Vaughn Juares and Sam McQueen sat down to talk about AI and its impact on nearly every industry across the globe. While many continue to lump AI into other “big” tech ideas like VR, the two made it clear that AI is a whole different animal. AI isn’t just hype; it’s already shaping how we live day to day.
AI vs VR: Not the Same Thing
People often compare AI and VR, but as Sam pointed out, they’re quite dissimilar. VR requires the purchase of special equipment to truly experience it, but AI works inside of existing tech – phones, laptops, and even TVs. A user doesn’t have to strap on goggles to use AI, it’s just there, running underneath the surface, making the existing technology even smarter.
While VR is fun and certainly has a future in entertainment, AI is the engine that will push VR (and al other technologies) further. AI is not stuck in a single lane – it’s in cars, hospitals, airports, even household appliances. VR feels like a side story. AI is the headline.
“It’s Just a Fad”
As with the current perception of AI, almost every major technology was called a fad when it was introduced to the public. The internet, smartphones, social media, all powerhouses today, were equally dismissed as passing trends. Vaughn reminds listeners that movies were once thought to never last, as was the introduction of color film. Many critics thought The Wizard of Oz was just a gimmick with its bright colors and that it would fail to resonate with audiences; today, this statement couldn’t be farther from the truth.
If history repeated itself – as it often does – in time these opinions of AI as a fad will be equally as laughable.
What AI Really Means for the Future
The episode made it clear: AI will bring change, which undoubtedly creates nervousness. The initial confusion and doubt will ultimately be quelled as users adopt the technology and it prevades into every area of daily life. Sam made a good point: right now, people are desperate for a clean answer to “what exactly can AI do?”, which at this point does not exist; an answer is difficult (if not impossible) to pin down while the technology evolves. Consider the rise of social media: nobody could predict how it would completely reshape communication, and yet today it is effectively impossible to live without.
The same can be said for AI. The not knowing isn’t a problem; it’s actually what makes it exciting.
Beyond Just Media
AI is already starting to touch so many areas: media production, healthcare, education, transportation, the list is endless. Vaughn compared it to innovations like the train or the internet, which didn’t just make life easier; they literally expanded economies and opened up new industries. AI is in that same category.
AI is not a fad. It is not a passing craze that will vanish in a year or two. It is a shift – a huge shift – in how we think about and use technology in everyday life. Vaughn put it simply: “It’s not a fad.”
AI is big, and it will only get bigger.