Digital novelty is evaporating

POOF! Digital novelty has evaporated. There are no more novelty points just for showing up digital, now you gotta have purpose.

Twenty years ago, we were at the cusp of a digital revolution. Networking was giving rise to websites, and those websites were beckoning coders to innovate. This in turn captivated a new audience eager to explore the possibilities of the burgeoning digital landscape. I found myself engrossed in the world of Flash websites, enraptured by the animation, the programming, the sheer audacity of it all.

We were creators, staying up through the night, driven by the relentless pursuit of innovation, eager to reveal our visions to an expectant public. Recognition through a One Show Award, a Webby, or Flash Site of the Day was the coveted prize, a symbol of success in a field where the novelty of creation was still fresh and available to all through platforms like Flash.

The web was a canvas for novel ideas: e-commerce platforms and animated cartoons were just the beginning. Those who had the skills to build digital experiences became heroes of a new era. It was a period of democratization in communication and ideation, a time where anything seemed possible—from selling commercial airliners online to delivering animated series through apps crafted by vast teams focused on the minutiae of user experience.

As this wave of innovation spiraled, the line between the digital and real worlds began to blur. Now, in the era of AI, individuals wield powerful AI tools, accomplishing tasks that once required extensive teams. These 'creative robotic warriors' enable the creation of full projects, autonomously, extending capabilities beyond traditional skill sets.

But as I reflect, I can't help but wonder: as the novelty of digital creation fades and the capacity to innovate becomes universally accessible, what remains? With AI leveling the playing field, what will matter in a world potentially flooded with misinformation and 'digital techno garbage'?

The digital realm no longer holds the allure of novelty. So, what does the future hold? Will our reliance on AI to craft our ideas dilute the uniqueness of our creations? As someone who invested significantly in digital platforms, I'm left pondering if the loss of novelty also means a loss of value.

Yet, amid these reflections, one question remains paramount: How will we distinguish meaningful innovation in a sea of endless digital possibility?