I was inspired to write this blog by this short, 10-second video:

 

At first, this video appears to be just a crazy mix of Euro-tech hip-hop and a bad videographer. But as I watched it over and over and over, something just grabbed me. And what it was may surprise you.

This video is a vision into the future of tech. Analog experiences. Let me explain.

We’ve now reached a time and place where — online, at least — we can’t discern between what is real and what is fake. AI technology has accelerated fake news, fake imagery and fake videos to the level that we can’t, without expertise, tell what is real.

This has nearly reached a breaking point. So, the summer of 2026 will see the return of the great analog experiences. I will bet you that things like bowling, drive-in movie theaters, backyard barbecues, in-person shopping and even pickleball will be up in numbers, exponentially (not linearly) over 2025 and 2024. All this AI is driving people to get away from screens and touch grass.

I might sound like a grouchy old man, but I am not. I am seeing a trend that will just be reignited this summer and will continue for years — hitting AV in a big way.

Our ability to deliver in-person experiences will explode. Rental companies will have record years for at least a decade. Advertising will start shifting money away from Facebook and TikTok advertising (those two companies make up over 38% of the global ad spend) and into in-person experiences; pop-ups, brand activations, gamification, etc.

So, back to that video. That’s the future of the nightclub, the bar, the limo, the sporting event — I could go on — a truly immersive experience where we can place you anywhere you want to be. But not alone. With your friends and family.

This is just the beginning.