In this episode of Mattsplained, hosts Richard Bradbury and Matt Armitage explore the weird world of recent breakthroughs in science and technology. First up is a peculiar trend called "NPCs," where content creators pretend to be non-playable characters in video games. These NPC streamers mimic repetitive behavior, earning substantial amounts of money through livestreams. The hosts speculate on the potential reasons behind this trend and its commercial implications.

Moving on, they delve into the rise of AI influencers. While virtual influencers like lil miquela have been around for a few years, new AI models like Dall-e, midjourney, and stable diffusion have made it easier for anyone to create their own AI influencer. These AI influencers can maintain a perpetual and flawless online presence without experiencing content fatigue. Most AI influencers present as attractive individuals, predominantly young females, and cater to a growing audience across various social media platforms.

The hosts also touch on "phubbing," the act of ignoring someone in favor of one's phone. Studies have shown that phubbing can lead to negative feelings in relationships, emphasizing the importance of communication to strengthen bonds.

The podcast then takes an unexpected turn, discussing Elon Musk's recent acquisition of Twitter and its subsequent rebranding as "X." The hosts question the rationale behind the name change and Musk's plans to transform the platform into a super app centered around audio, video, messaging, and banking, powered by AI. They highlight the challenges of Twitter's pivot to fintech and the potential issues related to regulations, trust, and competition.

The episode concludes with some lighter topics, such as TikTok's introduction of a text service similar to Twitter's and the unintentional association of Twitter's rebranding with an adult streaming service called "Xvideo."

Overall, the podcast covers an array of unusual and intriguing topics, offering insights into the strange and evolving world of science, technology, and social media trends.

As summarised by ChatGPT

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