A panel of entertainment experts and Wall Street Journal readers weighed in on the future of entertainment over the next 20 years, driven by technological breakthroughs, decreasing production costs, and evolving attention spans. Key predictions include Americans engaging in shared virtual-reality experiences such as virtual travel, sports, and learning, requiring only headsets, food, and beverages. This shift suggests a move towards reduced personal interaction, with much of what remains occurring through digital mediums, powered by increasingly sophisticated algorithms and computation.
AI is expected to play a significant role, with much content becoming AI-composed and produced. While classic performers like Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen are projected to maintain popularity and generate substantial industry revenue through concerts, a substantial portion of new content will be AI-generated. Additionally, readers foresee interactive, immersive fictions created collaboratively by small groups of friends with their AI companions, allowing for customized fantasy worlds, adventures with AI characters, and dynamic content ranging from soap operas to humorous escapades.
The future also hints at brain implants and custom content for individual users. Movie theaters are anticipated to decline in large cities due to real estate costs, as home screens grow larger and streaming services improve, encouraging more in-home viewing. The remaining theaters are likely to focus on live entertainment. The widespread embrace of virtual reality, possibly spurred by future disruptions similar to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on webcams, is also predicted, with potential for mass-marketed IMAX-like wall installations and futuristic recliners for VR experiences akin to those in Pixar's "WALL-E."
