IRL Revival

There’s a narrative I keep coming across — from venture capitalists, marketing ads, even just talking with friends.

Everyone describes it a little differently, but the gist is the same:
As AI becomes more powerful and more capable of simulating everything, the things that can’t be faked — the physical, the human, the analog — start to feel more valuable. People are quietly craving what’s real.

You can see this show up in all kinds of ways: film cameras making a comeback, flip phones getting trendy, more people going to live events, physical books outselling e-books. There’s this low hum in the culture — not necessarily anti-tech, but definitely tech-fatigued. It’s not loud or dogmatic. Just… present.

I’m not sure if this is something that will last, at least not in a way that’s investable. I don’t know if there’s real alpha in chasing the “return to analog” thesis. But I’ll admit: I recently started getting into film photography, and I get it.

There’s something grounding about it. You feel like you’re actually participating in the creation of the photo — you’re adjusting, framing, slowing down. And there’s this built-in scarcity to it: just 36 shots per roll. You can’t just fire off 100 photos and pick the best one later. Every click feels like it matters. It makes the experience more deliberate.

Maybe being surrounded by AI all the time nudged me toward it. I don’t know. I didn’t wake up one day and think, “I need an escape from artificial intelligence.” But I do think we all have some kind of subconscious response to how much of our lives are mediated by screens and algorithms. And maybe this is mine.

I’ve also noticed a lot of other people turning to similar things: disposable cameras, in-person hangouts, writing in journals again. Whether or not AI caused it directly, it feels like we’re all reacting to something.

From an investor standpoint, I’m still skeptical. I don’t see a clear thesis here that I’d want to back with capital. But I can’t ignore how many different groups — investors, brands, consumers — are arriving at the same narrative through different doors.

Call it what you want: Analog Renaissance, IRL Revival, Digital Detox.
Whatever the name, the pattern is clear: AI is triggering a very human response.