Digital literacy has been a necessary skill for years now and the term keeps expanding its scope, including more and more abilities and tools. 20 even 10 years ago using a PC, writing essays in Word documents, and making budgets using spreadsheets was pretty much enough for everyday users.
However now, those skills have become basic and people need to know and use much more.
More and more aspects of our lives have crossed over to the digital space, and the use of several tools has expanded, like photo and video editing software, payment software, review and rating software. The list is endless.
In recent years, AI has made tremendous strides and has become an integral part of technological development.
We see it everywhere around us now, the self-driving cars, the locks and payment systems using facial recognition software. It all seemed like something from a fantasy novel. Yet, it’s our reality today.
In this article we will examine more closely the visual communication, not from the professional angle of marketing or social media influencer but the day-to-day communication among friends and family as well.
The rise of everyday visual content
Who can’t relate to having group chats with besties that include sending each other memes and reels to laugh and catch up?
It’s not professional content, and not even content for distribution. Visual content has infiltrated our day-to-day life. That’s how we express concern, make jokes, give advice, and are passive-aggressive with our partners.
Here are some of the forms of visual content that are widely used:
- Shorts
- GIFs
- Reels
- Simple explainers and much more.
We have all received the digital invite as a 3-second video, the digital thank you note with an attached short video of the highlights from the event, and pictures made into stickers for the chat apps.
As we all know, a picture is worth a thousand words. But a video takes you on a journey.
How is AI lowering barriers to visual content
Everything seems to have become easier with the rise of AI, and the visual content is no exception.
So many tools that we may not even be aware of are working behind the scenes to make sure we get the best outcome.
We are talking about features already embedded in the software of a phone camera or in the camera app, like auto-captioning, auto-focus, auto-cutting, and so on.
Templates are also largely available and tailored to a wide range of needs, from a promotional short to a highlight reel for a social media sales campaign or a private birthday party.
So nowadays, even a tech newbie is more than capable of creating a compelling and good-quality video, without the professional skills of photographers, editors, or videographers.
Examples of new micro-skills
The Gen-Z has kind of grown up with phones in their hands and are pretty tech-savvy. But even a boomer these days can edit a short video or make a family photo highlight reel. AI made it all possible with even basic knowledge of simple tools.
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Editing a 10-second clip
There used to be a time when editing videos and clips where only reserved for professionals. Those times are no more. Really, anyone can do it, using apps or browser video editors, like Clideo. It’s easy, quick and gives the desired results without any hassle.
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Adding text to a short tutorial video
If you are someone who works in education or wants to have a report or a presentation that stands out, then you have surely tried this before. Again, tens of different apps and websites are here to help, many powered by AI.
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Making a birthday/family highlight reel
Who doesn’t want to see a nice reel of their birthday party or graduation? The video will live in the cloud forever, reminding you of the best moments of your life and the fun times you had with loved ones. Apps like Clideo iOS App or many other websites will give you themed templates, with simple drag and drop to avoid cropping and format adjustments.
Impact on work, learning, and communication
AI and video creation are not only impacting how we communicate among friends and family but also our professional interactions.
The flight attendant is not showing the safety features, but you watch a video on the screen. HR is now sending a welcome video and tutorials on how to use systems and learn about the code of conduct.
Here are the major aspects of our professional communications that have been impacted by the growing popularity of video content and AI.
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More expressive workplaces
The workplace has shifted from endless paperwork and reading manuals to watching a tutorial or an SOP video, which has made the interaction more engaging and interesting. AI can provide the ideas and the tools, and streamline onboarding, making it more interactive and expressive.
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More accessible online learning
No need to keep a whole career development department, and take time off work to organise the training. Instead, invest once in the video making and editing, and fast-track the process. Plus, no more human error or favoritism during the tests.
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More visual personal branding
Branding has always been a tricky concept to carry across print media. TV and Social media commercials made it easier and more accessible. However now, personal branding has reached a different level, touching people’s hearts and deeply bonding with them to support brand loyalty.
Conclusion
As we can see, AI and video content are reshaping our understanding of what it means to be digitally literate and have digital skills in general. AI didn’t just affect the technical professionals, it infiltrated our daily lives, displacing print photos with video montages, face-to-face meetings with video group calls and much more.
AI is here to stay, so might as well learn how to interact with it and make sure it is useful and has a reach far beyond what was ever humanly possible.
