They Can't Take Our Souls

Issue #324 | March 18, 2025

The rise of AI is often framed as the downfall of the human race. It’s a topic that inspires endless doom-scrolling and a kind of low-grade existential dread about the future. But what if, instead of dragging us into despair, AI’s massive reach and power could actually make us more appreciative of what makes us human?

When I roamed around our SXSW Passionfruit event asking people: “What’s something AI will never do as well as humans?” I expected to hear the same answer on repeat. People saying “love” or “create art.” But true to the human spirit, every answer was different.

“I don’t think robots can direct,” one attendee said thoughtfully.

“Fighting,” said Israell, a creator on TikTok. Once we got into it, it was clear he meant martial arts and not emotional battles. Though, honestly, both feel very human and equally hard to emulate.

“Doing the robot,” another person joked, sending us down a philosophical path wondering how robots might feel about our imitation of them. Is doing the robot cultural appropriation? we briefly wondered, laughing.

And while the answers varied wildly, a common thread quietly emerged: I had unintentionally gathered a round-up of what makes us us.

“Sing a song by a campfire and make you cry,” said Pilou, an artist from Montreal.

“Make friends,” offered a content creator.

“Be soft,” added another.

It was summed up beautifully by popular Tik Toker JT Barnett who said: “Intuitive connection.”But perhaps the most powerful answer came from one of my favorite creators, Baron Ryan. Ryan is a sort of Gen Z Woody Allen (minus the allegations).

Based in Austin, his TikToks resemble short films more than internet content.
When I asked him the question, he paused. Then said: “Screw up, actually.”
It was disarming in its simplicity.

“Robots are very precise. They can get it just right,” he said. “What’s beautiful about humans, about humanity, is that you don’t get it exactly right. And wherever you land… that’s the art.”

It made me realize that, as a fan of his videos, all I could see was the end product. The perfect editing and the masterfully timed music. But what I don’t see is all of the mistakes it took him to get there. Behind every polished piece of content are countless screw-ups that lead to it.

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– Liz Plank, Passionfruit Contributor

PLATFORMS

Twitch CEO Defends Controversial Banning Rules

Is his reasoning good enough?

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor

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There’s a new group of creators shaping the industry. They’re the ones making content for businesses and professionals—and seeing big payoffs. In fact, Teachable’s recent report showed that these creators are twice as likely to make $10K+ per month than those speaking to general consumers.

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IN THE BIZ

YouTube Shorts’ viewership grew by 25% year-on-year.
The stakes are higher in Beast Games season 2 with $15 million in prizes.
TikTok is rolling out a new “Security Checkup” tool.
YouTube’s Creator Collective is hosting events in all 50 states.

TIPS & TRICKS

What is Bluesky? Everything You Need To Know About the X Replacement

Where to go when X no longer marks the spot.

By merritt k, Passionfruit Contributor

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PLATFORMS

We Might Actually Meet the ‘Ban or Sell’ Deadline

JD Vance told NBC News that a deal would “almost certainly” be done by April 5.

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor

READ THE FULL STORY →

JOB BOARD

Roblox is looking for a Video Editor.
Vox Media is looking for a Video Editor.
Playbook is looking for a Social Media Writer.
starryai is looking for a Content Creator.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

The saga of the TikTok ban is a confusing one. You may have seen China being pinned as the reason for the platform’s ban. But according to Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the intelligence committee, that’s not the case.

Passionfruit contributor Taylor Lorenz details a timeline of the TikTok ban and the “real reason” behind it in the video below. Check it out!