Deep dive: Social media, AI and… Rabbit?

Rabbits used to run on carrots and hop around, but now they run on code.

👋 Hello! We’re The Z Link, a global Gen Z-led social media agency that helps brands reach our generation. The Digital Native, written by our Trends Reporter, Shaurya, takes a deep dive into niche internet micro-trends and subcultures, and analyzes them so you don’t have to. For any feedback, questions or suggestions, just reply to this email!

---

I felt it deep in my soul when One Republic sang, “Wherever I go, there’s a shadow of you.” That’s how I feel about AI. Everywhere I look, I can’t seem to escape it. Release me from the shackles, I beg. I may sound pessimistic, but everything is so bleak & up in the air that it’s difficult not to be frustrated at the thought of people wanting to replace the human touch with AI. But we move, we ball, let’s talk about it. 🤖

Rabbit AI? Does it run on carrots?

Rabbit AI, much like other AIs, runs on code. I wish it ran on carrots, but alas. Okay, but what is it ACTUALLY? The best way I can describe it is that it’s an AI-powered apparatus that runs your apps for you. I’m not a tech writer, nor do I have enough knowledge to explain how it works, mainly because I’m still confused about the ‘why’ of it all.

We discussed this device in class a couple of weeks ago, and my professor described it as ‘a more refined and sophisticated Siri.’ And he’s right; it’s Siri or Alexa, but (I feel) with more steps. The device has a push-to-talk button, where you request something and let it deliver it. The Verge said what ChatGPT is to web search, Rabbit could be to App Store.

From the sounds of it, the CEO doesn’t seem too sure of the direction the device will take. It’s not yet powerful enough to replace your phone, but it can do a lot of what your phone does. It can make calls, take pictures, and even order your favourite sushi from Uber Eats. You can also train it to learn something like Photoshop. What I want to focus on, though, is how likely AI devices like Rabbit will replace phones and, eventually, how that phenomenon will change how we consume social media content.

AI’s influence on social media consumption

Before I talk about AI hardware, I want to talk about AI’s influence on social media because it’s far more crucial to discuss that. We already know social media platforms use algorithms to show you content. And it’s already pretty problematic because so much of what you would actually WANT to see is hidden.

AI is not spared from bias either because, at the end of the day, it’s a person training it. That bias WILL seep in, and we see it every day. AI-generated videos and images published online are sometimes seen as the real thing; all it takes is one comment to spread misinformation. Creators are already struggling with the algorithm pushing their content; adding AI to the mix is somehow worse.

How much of your content is pushed to audiences also depends on the device's hardware. Phones in portrait mode have a ratio of 9:16, and Instagram pushes content that conforms to this ratio because it improves the viewing experience. It’s not a hard and fast rule but just one of the lesser-known unspoken rules.

AI-powered hardware and its popularity

Okay, so can the way your mobile is designed to change the way you consume media? I think it can. I mean, with the release of iPhones, we saw how social media platforms changed to work WITH the grain instead of against it. Apps like Instagram and Snapchat walked onto the scene and represented visual platforms whereas Twitter or X became a rep for more text-based apps.

AI isn’t as popular as social media makes it out to be. Yes, we’re learning about it in educational institutions now, but that doesn’t mean its popularity ratings are higher than those of a single episode of Love Island. I can promise you that nobody in fashion school wants to work with AI (except our assignments) for creative work. So it begs the question, will we see a rise in AI-powered devices in the NEAR future?

We’ve been seeing AR and VR-backed devices come and go, and I think that will also happen to AI-powered devices. They’ll be a fad. Remember the Rayban glasses that could record videos or the Snapchat glasses? Obsolete now. Do you see anyone buying the Apple headset? People will buy all this new tech but ultimately return to what we know best: our phones.

Maybe in the future, we could see AI-backed hardware being the go-to device for people, but until that day comes, we’re really happy with Steve Jobs’ work. He slayed with it so hard. 💅🏻

Conclusion

I can’t exactly conclude something that I think is a developing story. But for now, I think everyone’s too wary of what AI is capable of and what it’s capable of doing. It’s exciting for people in tech, but when it screws over creatives the way it has been, it’s a little tricky to WANT to try AI-driven tech. I’d want stricter regulations on AI to try it, but until then, I think I want to stay with archaic technology like an iPhone—or even just pen and paper. Let’s go back to basics and send letters via pigeons. We’ll be ghosted anyway, but hey, at least we would have a government spy (the pigeon) to keep us company.

---

Any questions/suggestions as to what we should cover next? Reach out to us and we’re always here to chat!

— Written by Shaurya, Trends Reporter at The Z Link

Connect with Shaurya on Instagram where she shares great content and lives her best influencer life as a fashion student in London. And she writes all of these great issues too. What can’t she do??? 🧐 Thank you for reading!