AI Hype, Fashion Bots and the Death of Thought
Silicon Cinema and the AI Aesthetic
From box office hits to TikTok filters, artificial intelligence has stepped out of the server room and into cultural stardom. The New York Times explores how recent films like “The Creator” and the cult-adored “Her” have helped cement AI’s place as not just a technological revolution but a lifestyle narrative. Fashion brands are also speeding into the AI zeitgeist—draping machine-inspired silhouettes on runways and hiring hyperreal AI models to headline campaigns. The appeal isn’t just novelty: AI is increasingly seen as a reflection of modern anxieties and aspirations. But is this techno-romance disguising deeper cultural fatigue?
The Myth of Intelligence and the Cost of Convenience
While AI’s aesthetic takeover dominates popular media, experts and cultural critics warn about the cognitive consequences of automation. The article draws on Italian philosopher Franco “Bifo” Berardi’s scathing critiques of techno-capitalism, emphasizing how societal overreliance on machines is leading to a form of “cognitive decadence.” As human tasks—from writing to decision-making—are increasingly delegated to intelligent systems, mental atrophy and intellectual passivity may be the real costs of progress. The article challenges readers and creators to rethink not just what AI can do—but what we lose when we stop thinking for ourselves.
