Nicolas Lopez is a New York-based behavioural analyst at Canvas8. He holds a degree in political science from Columbia University. His research is driven by the relationship between the political, material, and cultural spheres. Outside of work, he can be found writing fiction and riding his bike with no hands.


People are taking a patchwork approach to self-expression to feel like they have control over how their identity is generated. Yet as individual expression becomes more mutable and mistrust in social systems abounds, there’s one place above all that people are seeking integrity and guidance: brands.

Reality Split

United States

Technology

TV, film, and social media video

Instagram has begun to let users create AI versions of themselves, enabling creators and business owners to use AI profiles to talk to followers on their behalf, respond to comments, and chat with followers. Many remain concerned, however, about how the chatbots will engage with user content.