Remember when Netflix was the golden child of entertainment? For a measly eight bucks a month, we had access to virtually everything worth watching. Those days feel like ancient history now, replaced by a fragmented, overpriced mess that’s beginning to make the old cable monopolies look reasonable by comparison.

The recent news about Americans spending less on streaming services isn’t surprising – it’s the inevitable result of corporate greed destroying what was once a revolutionary service model. What started as a simple, user-friendly way to watch content has devolved into a byzantine maze of subscriptions, each demanding their pound of flesh while offering less and less value.

Reading through online discussions about the future of entertainment in an AI-dominated world has got me thinking about what we truly value in our experiences. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian recently suggested that live theatre and sports might become more popular as AI technology advances, and there’s something genuinely fascinating about this prediction.

The logic makes perfect sense when you think about it. In a world where AI can generate endless streams of content with a few keystrokes, genuine human performance becomes increasingly precious. Standing in the crowd at the MCG during a nail-biting final quarter, or watching performers pour their hearts out on stage at the Arts Centre - these experiences simply can’t be replicated by algorithms.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the rapid advancements in AI-generated media lately, and I have to say, it’s both exciting and unsettling. A recent video I came across showed a skillfully crafted, AI-generated montage of various high-profile individuals in humorous and absurd situations. While entertaining, it also made me realize just how quickly this technology is progressing and how it might change the entertainment landscape forever.

The video itself was undeniably impressive, with surprisingly realistic depictions of well-known figures like Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and even Elon Musk. It was like watching a surreal dream, but with a hint of familiarity. However, what struck me most was the potential implications of this technology on our society. If AI can create content that’s this convincing and entertaining, what does that mean for the future of media and entertainment?