AI's Strip Mall Problem: Are We Building Disposable Digital Futures?

Is it just me, or are we creating a bunch of “cheap strip malls” with AI?

Hear me out…

Ask most architects about their opinion on strip malls, and you likely hear some heavy criticism. Why? Because they aren’t built with any sense of beauty, longevity, or craft.

Unfortunately, the American landscape is littered with strip malls. Most are ugly, inefficient uses of space, and will likely be torn down within the next 50 years. We aren’t building things to last anymore, and most architecture is boring boxes devoid of any soul. Don’t believe me? Compare most modern buildings to the Art Deco era, or American buildings to European. There is a stark difference. Such is the case with many aspects of our culture, due to an unending pursuit of convenience and a willingness to view things as disposable.

If you ever want to go down this rabbit hole, there are some fantastic documentaries on this subject, but I digress. Back to AI…

As I’ve been diving into using AI, primarily from the standpoint of how do I prepare our company for scalable growth, I’m seeing very similar approaches crop up in the things people are using AI to create.

Some examples:

• Content: Content on LinkedIn is increasingly becoming AI-generated. But are people becoming more skeptical, less inclined to read, and losing trust in its authenticity?
• Documentation: Tools that document everything we do, from note-takers to wearables, mean we don't have to remember and miss things. But are we truly using this data for efficiency, or is it fostering lazy thinking and a diminished attention span?
• Relationships: People are turning to AI (a.k.a. the cringe of friend.com) for friends, relationships, and mentors. But as social isolation reaches all-time highs, are we sacrificing the meaningful, innovation-driving connections that come from real human relationships?
• Apps/Websites: All kinds of new apps and websites are being churned out like crazy thanks to low-code tech tools. But do many of these apps now lack sophistication, design, or a sense of unique craft, making them feel generic?
• Pitch Decks: Pitch decks are assembled with little effort using AI. But part of crafting a truly compelling deck is deeply understanding your customer and the art of selling an idea; will this automation affect our ability to communicate convincingly and authentically?
• Process Automation: Many processes are being automated, like managing email, scheduling, and even more complex tasks. But are we inadvertently losing our fundamental ability to communicate effectively with each other?

While on the surface, these tools provide value in terms of efficiency and democratize things that were once out of reach for many people. But in many cases, the output is still a cheap version of what people could be making.

This isn’t a plea to turn away from AI, but rather for us to handle it with care. We need to be careful not to give up on pursuing things that matter, such as critical thinking, creativity, meaningful connections, and becoming craftsmen. I keep hearing people talk about the promise of AI to enable these things, but it isn’t up to AI to make this happen; it’s up to each of us. We will either decide that we are okay with cheap, convenient, and disposable, or we will pursue things with beauty, longevity, and craft.

#futureofwork #connection #ai