There has been a surge in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the entertainment industry. From the creation of digital characters to the production of movies, AI is now being used to create addictive television shows that keep viewers hooked. This may sound exciting, but it also raises concerns about the potential for AI to manipulate human behavior and addiction.
One of the ways AI could create addictive television is through the use of predictive algorithms. These algorithms analyse data from viewer behavior, such as watching patterns, search history, and social media activity, to understand what people like and what keeps them engaged.
This information is then used to create personalised recommendations and suggestions for viewers. For example, streaming services like Netflix use AI to recommend shows based on a viewer’s watch history and preferences. But what if Netflix AI could watch you whilst you are watching programmes and truly understand your enjoyment or dislike of programmes and films – rather than just what you watched.
AI could create addictive television through the use of emotional analytics. This involves using AI to analyse facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language to understand how viewers are feeling while watching a show. This would be used to adjust the content of the show to create a stronger emotional connection with the viewer. For example, if AI detects that a viewer is feeling sad, it could recommend a show with more uplifting content or show a trailer for a new show that is more upbeat.
The use of AI to create addictive television raises concerns about the potential for manipulation and addiction. AI has the ability to analyse human behavior and tailor content to keep viewers engaged for longer periods, potentially leading to addiction. This addiction could have serious consequences for mental health, productivity, and social interaction. Additionally, the use of AI to create personalised content could lead to a loss of diversity, a bit like most social media feeds, and further the reach of “echo chambers,” where viewers are only exposed to content that reinforces their existing beliefs and biases.
And what if AI could create personalised TV programmes on the fly? Where you get to watch the version that AI knows you will enjoy the most, and keep you hooked. AI generated characters delivering a different version for every viewer would make conversations over what happened in the show more difficult if all the endings were different.
The potential is huge and exciting and will be great to have better recommendations based on what we really enjoy not just what we previously watched. We will need to protect against the creation of even more echo chambers and the dangers of television and film to manipulate audiences can only grow with this technology.
Christopher Wellbelove DL 