In today’s society, everything is blurring—from social status to age differences.
Let’s start with the rich-poor judgment. You can’t tell if someone is poor or super-rich just by their outfit. Fast fashion has brought lookalike designer wear to the common man’s doorstep. Some bigger designer companies collaborate with cheap brands to exploit this difference.
The same is true for a person’s age. Botox, plastic surgery, hair transplants, hormone injections, silicone implants, tooth implants, veneers, joint replacements, height-enhancing surgeries, and a good gym regimen are all contributing to older people looking younger.
Now for the bonus blurriness: Who is who? People are taking on multiple different roles at the same time or throughout their lifetimes. Just the other day, I saw a doctor singing on stage. Actors are becoming directors, and hotel owners are trying their luck in cinema. Choreographers are now film directors, and actors are becoming singers—and vice versa.
And then there’s the funny finale: the gender blur. Cross-dressing, gender reassignment surgeries, hormone therapy, transgender identities, and more are all part of this phenomenon. Gay individuals often cannot be identified unless they choose to reveal it. This gender bending is also evident in professions; women are pursuing dangerous hobbies or careers that were traditionally dominated by men, further contributing to the gender blur.
Will this end here? No. Another blur is on the horizon: the human-machine blur. One day, you might find out that your long-distance best friend has passed away, and AI is now sharing their feelings with you. AI could have access to all the data from your conversations over many years—perhaps even a decade. It knows all your secrets. Long live the friend!
Even art and craft have not remained untouched by AI and machine learning. It is said that some AIs are 8 years old but will appear to be 40 years old within 2 years. Repetitive work was replaced long ago during the Industrial Revolution; now AI has incorporated human behavior and simple thinking into its capabilities.
Is this blurriness good for the human race at large?
Stay tuned for my new article on this topic.