Ye Jinhai, Associate Professor at Faculty of Literature and Journalism, North Minzu University
Since its debut, Sora has garnered widespread astonishment and discussion. It is said that that the AI-driven text-to-video model unveiled by OpenAI could democratize the role of director, potentially revolutionizing sectors of the entertainment industry, particularly animation. However, OpenAI envisions Sora not merely as a text-to-video model but as a "world simulator" with the capacity to deeply emulate the actual physical world, creating intricate scenarios featuring multiple characters and specific actions.
The advent of Sora indicates that the progression of media technology is not a linear evolution but rather a quantum leap. It has bypassed the intermediate step of replicating reality through traditional methods like filming, remote sensing, and 3D modeling, and instead, it restructures reality through digital imagery. Utilizing big data, Sora transforms, remodels, and distills existing footage, artistically reprocessing the physical realm. With sufficient computational power, individuals can not only construct personalized virtual digital realms through Sora but also possess a multitude of favored digital environments. Following the iterative advancements in AI, big data, intelligent algorithms, and substantial computational capabilities, the concept of human’s digital migration is becoming increasingly viable.
Currently, Sora's video outputs are artistic distillations of similar content derived from big data, often depicted from an extrinsic viewpoint with minimal integration of the creator's subjective experience. For instance, in a video featuring a cat's movement, the creator's interaction with the cat is scarcely depicted. Yet, with robust computational power, the creator could immerse themselves in a textually generated visual world, where "What I see, what I do, what I aspire to have..." are all dictated by the creator's intent. The primary technical hurdle lies in achieving greater computational power to facilitate the continuous digitalization of the "authentic self" and its seamless integration into Sora-generated videos or virtual constructs. This challenge appears surmountable, given the current trajectory of technological progress.
Thus, underpinned by avant-garde composite technologies, humans may soon actualize their pursuit of freedom, self-expression, and the fulfillment of desires within virtual digital realms. As the process of digital relocation unfolds, encompassing the digitization of imagery, consciousness, and the physical world, individuals will increasingly grapple with the choice between embracing the real world or a virtual digital existence. This dilemma, akin to life and death, presents a Hamlet-esque conundrum that may lead to profound struggles for many.
It is imperative to acknowledge that with the advent of video-generating media tools, the creation of virtual digital realms is imminent. Digital existence promises a realm of ultimate freedom and privacy for individuals, offering the opportunity to live out a series of vivid and illusory experiences. Yet, this process, propelled by diverse ideologies, capital, technological advancements, and market forces, will inevitably encounter complex challenges, leading to ethical, moral, and legal conflicts that must be navigated.
Published on March 28, 2024