AI Will Make Us Yearn for Human Activities (My Hypothesis)

Eugene Levy, Gilda Radner and others outside Second City Chicago

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere these days. It’s reshaping how we work, create, and even think about the future. And while AI is clearly here to stay, I have a hunch about how it’s going to play out in one area of our lives: leisure. My guess? People are going to start saying, "No thanks." Not everywhere, but in their free time, they’ll seek out things that feel unmistakably human—things AI just can’t touch.

Here’s why I think this will happen.

When technology changes fast, society often struggles to keep up. There’s even a term for this: cultural lag. It’s what happens when our habits and values take time to adjust to new tools or systems. And during this lag, people often feel overwhelmed, nostalgic, or even a bit rebellious. I think we’ll see this play out in how people choose to spend their free time as AI becomes more entrenched in our daily lives.

We’re already seeing the early signs. Look at the growing popularity of activities like improv comedy, live theater and jazz performances. These are experiences that thrive on spontaneity and connection—things AI can’t truly replicate. Sure, AI can compose music or crack a joke, but it doesn’t feel the same. It’s not messy. It’s not unpredictable. And those imperfections? That’s where the magic lives.

This shift reminds me of something called neo-Luddism. It’s not about smashing machines like they did in the 1800s. Instead, it’s a modern movement of people intentionally carving out tech-free spaces in their lives. Think about how vinyl records have made a comeback, or how some people prefer physical books over e-readers. It’s not because these things are more convenient—they’re not. It’s because they feel real in a way that’s hard to explain but easy to feel.

Then there’s the idea of slow living. In a world where AI promises to make everything faster and more efficient, slowing down can feel like a radical act. Whether it’s gardening, crafting, or listening to a live jazz set, these activities ground us. They force us to be present, and that’s becoming a rare and valuable thing.

Finally, there’s the quest for authenticity. As AI-generated content floods our feeds, I think people will place more value on things that are unmistakably human. Just like the farm-to-table movement celebrates food with a story, we might see a "human-to-human" trend in leisure. It’s about connection, not perfection.

So, what does the future hold? I think we’ll see more people seeking out leisure activities that celebrate human creativity and thought. It won’t be about rejecting technology altogether—AI has its place. But in our downtime, we’ll crave what makes us human: spontaneity, imperfection, and connection. And honestly, that feels like a future worth looking forward to.