The Iridium Layer of the AI Era

FM (Friday Morning) Reflection #20

You know how scientists have theorized and developed evidence to suggest that the dinosaurs were wiped out by a asteroid or meteorite? Key pieces of evidence include a layer of iridium found in the soil that dates back to that time, and the 93-mile wide Chicxulub crater discovered in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.

Societies and cultures are often remembered by the creations of their time, and I wonder if we will see the same kind of trace that tells us when AI came onto the scene, exemplified by the the styling of graphics, images, and text that started to proliferate in our digital ecosystem in 2022.

This period we’re in right now has some clear markers, reflected not only in our conversations, news articles, and social media covering the public onset of AI, but also in the art and visual artifacts we leave behind. I’m thinking of the graphic illustrations on articles, publications, LinkedIn and social posts, and in the digital publishing space. I see many that have been created with AI i…