The World is Shutting Down for Introverts

The first time I saw a Ghiblified Image on Instagram. I thought, “How cute!”

Suddenly, it got chaotic.

The internet was flooded with Ghibli-esque images. Friends shared their pictures. I couldn’t resist the temptation and tried it with one of my festive images too.

I loved the output (after three attempts). But something in me tugged hard. It was guilt as if I was cheating.

Cheating Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli.

The vibrantly colorful animations and detailing, coupled with storytelling, have been winning hearts for almost 40 years now. The mascot Totoro is only too familiar, especially for the 90s kids.

They are not movies, they are an emotion. For most, it’s nostalgia.

Today, a lifetime of work is replicated in seconds. A flawless imitation, but an imitation nonetheless.

What’s this got to do with introversion?

More than you realize. Let me explain.

Do you know why I felt guilty earlier?

With the surge of the AI Revolution, art as we know it is losing its charm. Machines encroaching into the most personal aspect of humanity are eroding creativity.

As a writer, I have been in constant distress over AI replacing us. But Ghiblifying a lifetime’s worth of achievement in a few seconds seems like a breaking point.

I feel like we are all taking a shortcut to authentic artistic expression. Life itself is turning into a performance.

All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.

Are we taking Shakespeare’s words a notch too far!

For example, every thought is now a potential reel material, every vacation a fashion parade, and every meal is a photo-op. For introverts who crave deeper and more meaningful connections, social media feeds brimming with curated exhibitions can be particularly draining.

Self-worth is measured in likes, shares, and followers as we present our polished selves. All this powered by AI amplifies certain voices while subduing others. And this is just one example.

We introverts are overwhelmed by this constant noise and need for self-promotion. The endless scroll, information overload, and pressure to engage disrupt our need for solitude and quiet spaces for contemplation.

Moreover, the AI-driven algorithms generating variations of art and writing are a threat to the silent contributions and unique perspectives of introverts.

We fear not just marginalization but also drowning under the sheer volume of mass-produced content. This fear stems from a history of being overlooked and side-lined.

So…What next?

That leaves us to wonder where do we go now!

The situation necessitates a deliberate effort to create a safe space to promote meaningful connections and genuine creativity.

Though our nature suggests otherwise, we need to build communities to preserve interconnections while keeping up with current trends. It is important to resist external pressures and embrace the inclination to prioritize your inner voice.

Is it curtains for imagination and creativity? Maybe not.

The real question is what will art and writing mean for upcoming generations?

The future of human expression is not solely an introverted concern. It is a matter of heart and soul that transcends personality types. It takes a collective effort to value and protect human attributes that machines can only mimic but not replace.

What are your thoughts on this? Let me know in the comments.