2024 01 26

Row of apartment buildings at night photographed while ordering a pizzas across the street at Joe’s. Wheeling, Illinois. January, 2024. © Clayton Hauck

A social media app that translates people in real time using AI to whatever language the user selects will become a global sensation. It will be like Chatroulette without all the masturbation. People across the globe will unite in wonder and awe by how amazing this technology is! We can communicate with each other despite the language barrier. Then, slowly, the brands will start to infiltrate this miracle and slip in sponsored content here and there. Who’s to know, right? Well, one day the algorithm will glitch or maybe an executive seeking a raise will ramp the promotional content knob to maximum and every sentence said by every person across the world for one full day will be: "Tide Pods are cool and get my clothes clean and I don’t dare eat them [chuckle in the style of user].”

Then, everyone will delete the app and go back to disliking everyone else, while forgetting this miracle technology even exists.

-Clayton