Passive consumption to active creation
Note: This essay is written with the help of ChatGPT, and lots of editing from me. Here was my original prompt:
Write an essay about how generative AI will change the dominant interaction paradigm with digital products from a one-way information consumption paradigm to an interactive, collaborative paradigm. With feed-based products, most users are just passively consuming information. Now, with generative AI making it easy for anyone to actively harness the world’s information, it’ll unleash a new way of interacting: more collaborative, more interactive, more creative.
We all know by now that generative AI makes it easy for anyone to actively harness the world’s information. One particular change I’ve been fascinated and inspired by is how GenAI is changing interaction paradigms with digital products.
Specifically, information feed-based products like IG, TikTok, Twitter, et al are mostly about one-way information consumption. A small percentage of users create content, most of us spend most of our time scrolling our highly personalized feeds.
However, Generative AI opens up new possibilities for more interactive, collaborative paradigms.
Instead of passively scrolling, you can create your own content, remix existing content, and collaborate with others in real-time.
As a result, generative AI is ushering in a new era of digital products that are more interactive, more collaborative, and more creative. For example, online platforms that use generative AI to power user-generated content (UGC) are becoming increasingly popular. These platforms allow users to create and share their own content, such as photos, videos, and music, with others in real-time.
Another way in which generative AI is changing the dominant interaction paradigm with digital products is by enabling more personalized experiences. By analyzing user data and generating recommendations based on that data, generative AI algorithms can create highly tailored experiences that are unique to each individual user. This means that users are no longer limited to consuming content that is relevant to the broader audience, but can instead receive recommendations and content that are specifically tailored to their own interests and preferences.
Furthermore, generative AI is also making it possible to create more immersive and engaging digital experiences. For example, generative AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants can provide personalized recommendations and support to users in real-time, making the interaction with digital products feel more like a conversation than a one-way exchange.
Overall, generative AI is transforming the way we interact with digital products, moving us away from the traditional one-way information consumption paradigm and towards a more interactive, collaborative paradigm. This shift is enabling greater creativity, personalization, and engagement, and is likely to continue shaping the future of digital products in the years to come.
