Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has made a bold prediction about the future of entertainment in an AI-dominated world: live theater and sports will experience a renaissance as people seek authentic human experiences. Speaking on the “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” podcast, the 41-year-old entrepreneur and venture capitalist shared his vision of how artificial intelligence will paradoxically drive demand for raw, unfiltered human performances.
Ohanian, who co-founded Reddit in 2005 and later established the venture-capital firm Seven Seven Six in 2020, believes AI will fundamentally transform the entertainment industry within the next decade. He predicts that AI will make on-screen entertainment “better, faster, cheaper, and more dynamic,” creating an environment where every screen becomes hyper-personalized to show viewers exactly “what we want, when we want it, how we want it.”
However, this AI-saturated future will create an unexpected countertrend. Ohanian argues that as people become overwhelmed by AI-polished content on screens, they’ll crave the authenticity of live human performances. He draws a parallel to humanity’s ancient tradition of gathering around campfires to hear storytellers perform with voices and impressions—a practice “ingrained in our species” for thousands of years.
In his most striking prediction, Ohanian stated that “10 years from now, live theater will be more popular than ever.” He envisions people actively seeking opportunities to sit in dark rooms with other humans, experiencing the goosebumps that come from watching live performances—something AI cannot replicate. The same principle applies to sports, where audiences need to “feel their pain and their success and their triumphs” through genuine human achievement.
The Reddit co-founder also addressed the broader implications of AI on the workforce, suggesting that empathy will become one of the most valuable skills in an AI-driven economy. While acknowledging that robots will take over many jobs, Ohanian emphasized that fields requiring genuine human empathy will maintain a competitive advantage. This belief is so strong that he’s prioritizing teaching empathy to his own children as a crucial, marketable skill for the future.
Ohanian’s perspective offers an optimistic view of AI’s impact, suggesting that rather than diminishing human connection, AI’s proliferation may actually heighten our appreciation for authentic human experiences and emotional intelligence.
Key Quotes
I actually bet 10 years from now, live theater will be more popular than ever. Because, again, we’ll look at all these screens with all these AI-polished images, and we’ll actually want to sit in a room with other humans to be captivated for a couple hours in a dark room to feel the goosebumps of seeing live human performances.
Alexis Ohanian made this prediction on the “On Purpose with Jay Shetty” podcast, articulating his vision of how AI saturation will drive demand for authentic human experiences. This statement represents his core thesis about the paradoxical effects of AI proliferation on entertainment preferences.
Every screen we look at will become so programmed to show us what we want, when we want it, how we want it, and a part of our humanity will miss, you know, thousands of years ago when we were sitting around a campfire and that great storyteller was doing the voices and the impressions.
The Reddit co-founder draws a connection between ancient human traditions and future entertainment needs, suggesting that AI’s hyper-personalization will create nostalgia for raw, communal storytelling experiences that have been part of human culture for millennia.
We need humans doing that. We need to feel their pain and their success and their triumphs. Those are the areas that get me most hopeful.
Speaking about sports specifically, Ohanian emphasizes that genuine human achievement and struggle cannot be replicated by AI, expressing optimism about areas where human authenticity remains irreplaceable despite technological advancement.
Our Take
Ohanian’s perspective represents a refreshing counternarrative to AI doom-and-gloom scenarios. Rather than viewing AI as purely disruptive, he identifies it as a catalyst that will heighten appreciation for irreplaceable human qualities. This analysis is particularly credible given his track record as both a tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist with skin in the game.
However, his 10-year timeline may be optimistic. Cultural shifts typically take longer than a decade, and economic factors—like ticket prices for live events—could limit accessibility regardless of demand. The real test will be whether the entertainment industry recognizes this trend early enough to invest in live venues and experiences. What’s most compelling is his emphasis on empathy as a marketable skill, which could reshape educational priorities and hiring practices across industries. This positions emotional intelligence not as a soft skill, but as a competitive economic advantage in an AI-saturated marketplace.
Why This Matters
Ohanian’s predictions highlight a critical dimension of AI’s societal impact that often gets overlooked: the psychological and cultural response to technological saturation. As AI continues to revolutionize content creation and personalization, understanding how humans will seek balance becomes essential for businesses, investors, and policymakers.
This perspective has significant implications for the entertainment industry and investment strategies. If Ohanian’s prediction proves accurate, we could see increased valuations for live entertainment venues, theater companies, and sports franchises, while streaming and digital entertainment platforms may need to rethink their long-term strategies. His venture capital firm’s investment thesis likely reflects this belief, potentially positioning Seven Seven Six ahead of market trends.
The emphasis on empathy as a future-proof skill also carries profound implications for education and workforce development. As AI automation accelerates, industries focused on human connection—healthcare, counseling, education, hospitality—may become increasingly valuable. This challenges the common narrative that only technical skills matter in an AI-driven economy, suggesting instead that uniquely human capabilities will command premium value in the marketplace.
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