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An Intro to the Tech Storytelling Cycle
In the 1960s, technology was full of promise. The Space Age had arrived. Computers were being used in businesses. Science fiction showed a world of space travel, artificial intelligence, and endless human potential. Star Trek promised exploration and progress, while The Jetsons imagined a life of ease through automation.
Today, the future of tech looks much darker. In movies, books, and TV shows, technology is not seen as a tool to improve humanity, but as a dangerous threat. In Black Mirror, AI is shown as something that manipulates people. The Social Dilemma shows social media as a plot to addict the masses for profit. Instead of leading to a utopia, today’s stories about technology often focus on a loss of humanity and environmental collapse.
These changes in perspective are nothing new. Throughout history, the tech storytelling cycle has been quick to shift. Technology has been both celebrated and feared, moving between times of great hope and deep distrust. Understanding these changes helps us see how technology is developed, adopted, and regulated. It also shows an opportunity: If stories can turn innovation into fear, they can also build hope in the future.
The Pattern of Tech Narratives
The cultural conversation about technology usually follows a three-step pattern:
- A new breakthrough excites early adopters, investors, and scientists, who promise a better world.
- As the technology spreads, the public starts to notice its negative effects, and people become more skeptical.
- Once the technology is too important to ignore, society takes a more balanced view, regulating its risks while accepting its benefits.
In the early days of the internet, people believed it would make information more accessible and lead to a more open society. Social media was first seen as a way to connect people from different countries. But as problems with data collection, misinformation, and manipulation became clear, people started to worry.
Artificial intelligence is following a similar path. Ten years ago, AI was mostly seen as a tool to make tasks easier and improve human abilities. Today, it is often viewed with caution, seen as a job killer, or even a threat to human existence. If the pattern continues, AI will eventually move into a third phase, where its risks are understood, but its benefits are clear.
Tech Optimism Through the Decades
In the mid-20th century, people had strong faith in technological progress. After World War II, especially in the United States, science and engineering were seen as the keys to a better future. The race to the moon, the rise of nuclear power, and the growth of home computers were seen as signs that humanity was on a path to a brighter tomorrow.
By the 1980s and 1990s, this optimism had started to fade. Cyberpunk fiction created visions of a world where giant corporations ruled over a tech-driven society. Movies like Blade Runner and The Matrix imagined futures where AI turned against its creators. The rise of surveillance and the growth of the digital economy raised concerns about privacy and corporate control.
Today, there is more skepticism about technology. Innovations like automation, machine learning, and biotechnology are often met with fear or distrust.
The common narrative is no longer about how technology will improve lives. It focuses on how it will invade privacy, exploit workers, and make inequality worse.
A Shift Toward Realism
If history teaches us anything, the current period of pessimism in the tech storytelling cycle won’t last forever. Just as the 1970s and 1980s brought a backlash to the optimism of the Space Age, the next few decades will likely bring a shift away from today’s dystopian stories.
One reason for this change is the increasing recognition of technology’s positive impacts. AI is already helping doctors diagnose diseases more accurately than humans. Automation is reducing human errors in industries like transportation and finance. New advancements in climate technology offer hope for solving environmental problems. As these benefits become clearer, the cultural conversation could start to change.
Another factor is the generational shift. Younger generations, who grew up with technology all around them, may not be as skeptical as those who saw it emerge more suddenly. Just like the internet went from a disruptive force to an essential part of life, new technologies will eventually become too familiar to fear.
For emerging technology companies, this shift is an opportunity. Many founders focus on technical challenges like building the right product or scaling. But in a world where people are wary of technology, the real challenge is shaping the story around it.
An Opportunity for Tech Start-Ups
We’re currently in a time of skepticism in the tech storytelling cycle. A recent survey from Ireland even showed nearly 3/4 people don’t trust AI.
But this actually represents a good opportunity for tech founders. If you can tell the right story, you can stand out in a crowded market by not just capturing attention, but also building trust.
Shift the narrative from skepticism to excitement. Make people feel that the technology you’re building is more than just innovative – it’s inevitable. Paint your tech as a natural and essential part of the future.
This is where Waking Dreams Media comes in. Specialising in storytelling for technology companies, we can help you craft a narrative that resonates and makes a lasting impact. Through professional, engaging, and effective video content, we can bring your story to life.
With the right pitch, your tech can transform from a frightening concept into a secure future that benefits everyone.
Ready to tell your story right? Let’s talk.
Contact Waking Dreams Media today to make it happen.
