The Daily Planet #95: The AI Bubble, Part 20

OK, we know Andreesen-Horowitz are not objective participants in the AI tournament, but I liked this piece on "prediction" becoming the core idea animating our culture. Not sure about it being postmodernism's successor, only because I have a different image of postmodernism in my head, but read it for its take on prediction, not its take on prediction's predecessor.

Prediction culture centers markets and technology, especially computers, increasingly direct attention and resources by forecasting outcomes, creating a culture of speculation and anticipation. It shifts the focus from passive consumption to active engagement, where individuals seek to feel something meaningful, even if it involves discomfort. This is reflected in new art forms like public predictions, AI-generated art, NFTs, and meme coins, which embody the idea of prediction as both a cultural and economic act.

You can see the not so subtle advertisement for A16Z's portfolio here

The article highlights how social media and markets now operate similarly, with users constantly monitoring performance and timing, making anticipation itself a form of consumption. The meaning of products and experiences increasingly depends on when and how one engages with them, rather than just what they are.

Furthermore, the rise of AI and large language models has intensified this trend, turning prediction into a tangible asset and career path. The future is envisioned as a personalized parlay on shared events, where success depends on being predictive rather than predicted.

Prediction: the Successor to Postmodernism