Automatons

This week I attended an AI conference where thousands of participants were simultaneously listening to multiple speakers within the same room. The secret; everyone was provided headphones that were colour-matched to each stage, thus allowing you to select the presenter of your choice, with the click of a button.

This was a unique experience for many reasons. There were basically zero distractions, side conversations or distracting noises. In fact if you took off the headphones mid-session, the room was unnervingly quiet. This made it so easy to be dialled-in on the speaker, their voice clear, loud, and directly to your ear.

When discussing this event with colleagues later, it became apparent that this was not a new concept to others. In fact they even shared examples of ‘silent’ night clubs, where people select their music choice, matching beats with their colour-coded counterparts. When it’s time to chat with another reveller, simply remove the headphones, and re-enter a room devoid of background noise. Strange.

As a teacher I couldn’t help but imagine a room of staring faces all focused on my voice and lesson, undistracted by the peers around them. While the idea of uninterrupted attention seems amazing, I can also imagine a myriad of issues.

Rooms devoid of the sounds of life. No chuckles of engagement, murmuring of side discussions, or the natural banter typically associated with live feedback.

I have yet to form an opinion as to whether or not I prefer headphone-empowered events.  

What I do know, is that when observing it from the outside, it is like watching a dystopian sci-fi movie in the making. 

Emotionless automatons, fixated on their divine leader on the stage. 

New, intriguing, and possibly less ‘human’. 

•  Now that’s a peak ethos.