Mid-Year Pulse Check: How Accurate Was the 2023 Predictionary?

ICYMI, at the beginning of the year D1A published the 2023 Predictionary, a dictionary and prediction hybrid that laid out what we anticipated for the year ahead. As we approach the middle of the year (where did the time go?), it felt only right to hold ourselves accountable and reflect on the first half of 2023: which predictions were spot on and which ones played out differently?

To do this, we assembled a team of D1Aers and very scientifically rated each word on a 0 to 10 scale, with 0 being a prediction that was way off and 10 being eerily accurate. Read on for our totally authoritative ratings and unfiltered thoughts about the state of culture.

Alex: My initial reaction is to say 10, but I am going to give it 8 — AI is everywhere right now, but I knocked off a couple points because I feel like people are still a bit apprehensive about it.

Deshé: Rating AI an 8. I think those of us who work in digital are seeing this everywhere, but I have a lot of friends who still don't know what ChatGPT is.

Alex: I feel like most people know about it, but there are a bunch of people who are nervous about using it or apprehensive of its use case.

Deshé: Yes. I think the anxiety is mostly around industries who see its potential to replace them right now but, similar to the metaverse, the average citizen is none the wiser.

Patty: Okayy but Spotify DJ lowkey slaps.

Deshé: My co-worker said something important recently. He said if you use Grammarly, you use AI. I was like... damn. It's been here and we didn't even know it.

Patty: Totally agree on the experiences front; people def want to feel special so they're moving towards experiences, and I think this goes hand in hand with just wanting to show off. Like truly I would rate ex-factor a solid 8-ish, especially as clout and wanting to show off continues to grow.

Alex: I definitely feel like 9! Exclusivity is so relevant still and always a moving target. The second something becomes attainable, people move on to the next.

Alex: 10! (Maybe 9.5.) Personally, I am not bored of reboots and remakes but I know a ton of people who are. Personally (and don't judge me for this), I am a big Disney person. So while a lot of people don't like them, I enjoy a lot of the remakes because it feels like an updated version of something I am nostalgic about.

Deshé: 9.5. I’m a big Marvel fan. Have been for years and even I am like, alright, aren't we doing too much now? Give me time to miss you instead of just chugging content out constantly. On that note, also all these film adaptations, from" Pokémon Detective Pikachu", "Sonic," "Mario," and then everyone seeing the success of Marvel and trying to replicate it. I'm like, dang, whatever happened to quality film/TV?

Alex: There will 100% be more reboots/sequels/prequels to come — they already have them coming up with “Harry Potter,” “Game of Thrones” spin offs, etc.

Deshé: Fatigue or not I think this trend will continue.

Deshé: 10. I'm seeing brands pop up outta the woodwork to announce all their sustainability efforts. I feel like sustainability is the new black. It’s something Gen Z really cares about and I think brands understand that if they don't have some sort of public facing effort they’ll be liable to get canceled real quick.

Patty: I would also say 5. It just feels like there’s this divide with wanting to be sustainable but not doing it in practice.

Deshé: I think the real reason people are buying from Shein and Temu is related to price. As much as people want to be for sustainability, they gotta pay the bills. And with inflation, the appeal to buy dupes and secondhand apparel at an affordable price is just too good to pass up.

Patty: Omg solid 10. Feel like so many brands are trying to emphasize how much better they are for you, and honestly being a lot more transparent about their ingredients, which I'm not mad about.

Alex: I also feel like there is such a rise in brands that focus on self care in a way they didn't before.

Deshé: Wellness is such a trend right now it's not even funny. Like every brand and their mom are trying to find a way into this space. I'm specifically thinking beverages, like the success of Liquid Death and all these canned drinks that promise reduced anxiety and elevated moods. It almost feels like wellness-washing and greenwashing are today, is what rainbow washing was yesterday.

Deshé: Honestly, if Netflix made some sort of TikTok app in TikTok's absence, the power they would have. I'm shivering even thinking about it.

Alex: I kind of feel like Trendflation, Tiktokocene and Re-conomy go a little hand in hand — content (and trends) are flipping over SO fast, to the point that it's almost impossible to keep up. And then when you look at TikTok, where everyone has an individualized FYP, not everyone is exposed to the same trends, so are they even trends if they are reduced to a specific corner of the internet?

Patty: I would honestly say 10 for this one as well, especially since we're always trend forecasting and trying to find ways in, it’s like if you’re not a part of the conversation or hop on a trend quick, there's always another brand, person, etc. that will and stand out.

Deshé: 10. I think Trendflation is actually the result of personalized algorithms. People aren't watching the same channels anymore. There are all these hyper-specific niche communities and I think brands now have to divvy up their dollars to grab a bit of attention from so many different places. I think trends are just a different way of saying POV now. Like, if you’re a gamer and you have a POV on what’s going on in that community because you subscribe, you can label it a trend and then watch the money flow.

Alex: Oooh Deshé that's a really good point.

Deshé: In its truest sense, I think a trend is tied to numbers. Like “we've seen a large spike on Google trends about XYZ.” But in the modern age, a trend is rallying together 7 headlines and being like “don't you want in on this action?” A trend also feels connected to how many views a topic gets on TikTok. Like, if #DrinkTok had 5B views and all the top videos were about DIY mocktails, I'd call that a trend.

Alex: I feel like a trend has to be able to be able to cross niche communities. If it is limited to one subset of people, it doesn't quite feel like a trend, as opposed to being applicable to the majority. I think you can have different takes on a trend that might be differentiated across sub-communities, but at the heart it's applicable to the masses.

Eli: Alright Clara, now it’s our turn, I guess we have to think about this again. This year’s edition was the most challenging, but illuminating one to write. Let’s run through our top 3. I’m going to have to go: AI-nxiety, Fratigue, and Trendflation. If there was a word for AI fatigue, that would make it in there as well. A hybrid of “Fratigue” and “AI-nxiety.”

Clara: “Sleep AI-pnea”?

Eli: That’s terrible. Saving it for next year, though.

Clara: I’m gonna go: Get Well Boom, TikTokocene and Ex-factor.

Eli: I think AI-nxiety clearly captures the prevailing mood, and we’re definitely going to see it play out in the 2024 election for sure. I wonder if Fratigue will be even more prevalent due to the writers’ strike?

Clara: Always gotta bring in the politics. But also curious how it shakes out election-wise. It feels like the worst and (unfortunately for democracy) most popular use cases for AI in a campaign context have yet to emerge which is terrifying. Writers’ strike is also an interesting call out.

Eli: And I’m always bringing it back to politics. Yeah, I do think there’s a very, almost insidious undertone to it all. Alex Pauly (friend of the pod) wrote a good piece in Highsnobiety recently hitting on some of this.

Clara: True, I did enjoy that one. But final thoughts?

Eli: All things considered, I feel like we were pretty good about having our finger on the pulse, and not just necessarily taking things at face value either. Actually interrogating shifts and movements vs. just regurgitating them. Time to tee up the brainstorms for next year.