I suppose in the world of Linked In, I’m a bit like Neo is to the Matrix. Aware that something is going on but not fully plugged in, so my 2025 resolution is to take the red pill, and a leap of faith and share a little of my own experiences as a creative and
storyteller.
I sat down with my son the other night with some popcorn and M&M’s to watch what for me at the time was one of the coolest movies I’d ever seen, “The Matrix” (caveat - I’m Gen X and he’s an Alpha). It hit theaters in 1999, I know… I can’t believe it's been a quarter of a century since I first tumbled down the rabbit hole with Neo and Morpheus? But this wasn't just another sci-fi flick. It was a mind-bending, genre-defining masterpiece that, looking back, was a window into the future of AI and creativity. Shit, for all we know we could all be living in it right now…
When I first saw it, I walked out of that movie wanting to master Kung Fu, learn to fly a helicopter and probably speak fluent Japanese all in a nano second but at the time it was all just “movie magic”. This time round…I still wanted that. The most iconic scene though was the “bullet” scene. We all remember that ! A slow-motion action sequences where the camera flew around Neo as a stream of bullets passed by his contorted frame. And as a story telling mechanism it did indeed prove that yes, he truely was “the one”… The Matrix didn't invent it, but it sure as hell made it iconic. Suddenly, every action movie wanted a piece of that visual magic. It was a game-changer, pushing the boundaries of what was technically possible and influencing how we visualize action on screen, and much to my surprise, although my boy has seen every billion dollar Marvel movie under the sun, he still
reacted the same way I did all those years ago… “Dad, that was F(*&^ing awesome!!!”
But The Matrix was more than just cool effects. It tapped into our deepest fears and fascinations about technology. What if the world we perceive is just a simulation? What if machines become so intelligent that they enslave us? Heavy stuff, right? And yet, it's become increasingly relevant as AI grows more sophisticated.
Here's the irony: the very AI that threatens humanity in the film is also the key to its liberation. Neo's ability to manipulate the Matrix comes from his connection to the machine world. It's a complex duality that mirrors our own relationship with AI. We create these incredible tools, but we also worry about their potential to surpass us. As a creative I know that feeling all to well. I have amazingly talented friends in Media, DOP’s, photographers, animators, directors…and the list goes on and on and on… all of whom are staring at a very different future from the one we have known. We took a thousand hours to get good at the things we did. We crafted, we toiled, we made mistakes, we broke things, we made good shit and some bad but it was us and not just some prompt in Chat GPT or Mid Journey revealed to us in seconds. It took time, technical skills and understanding and while I feel the pain of us all, I still think there is more mastery in it for the OG Masters. We have an eye, a way with words a talent that has got us this far so in some ways these new tools are just that. Sure anyone can make a prompt and get a Dali but its our skills
and knowledge of what works, what looks good, what sounds right and what feels right that still is our X factor.
So, what does this all mean for creativity? Well, just like the machines in The Matrix crafted a simulated reality, AI is now being used to generate art, music, and even entire virtual worlds. Is it "real" creativity? That's a debate for another time. But there's no denying that AI is pushing the boundaries of what's possible, blurring the lines between human and artificial
imagination.
The Matrix might be 25 years old, but its legacy lives on. It's a reminder that the future of AI and creativity is intertwined, full of both incredible potential and unsettling questions. As for my boy, he’s ready for part 2. Unfortunately I dont have the heart to tell him that like most franchises…these don’t get better. Anyway, buckle up, because we're still on that wild ride down the rabbit hole, and to quote a even older film…”we’re not in Kansas anymore”
Ant Farac - These Guys I Know.
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