Since I was unceremoniously demoted while talking,
on a complex issue of how it is not easy for me to socialize in an X Space by @MEGAPROMPTER
I thought about it a bit more and have some thoughts to share. [Steve]
I am unlikely to ever be allowed to speak in this Space again (I am sure this happens to many others), hence this post …
Spaces on X (formerly Twitter) were envisioned as dynamic environments for dialogue, learning, and networking. However, what should have been a platform for diverse voices and ideas has instead become an arena for gatekeeping, where some hosts, gripped by insecurity, work to control and dominate their small corner of the internet. These hosts treat their Spaces like private property, silencing anyone who appears more interesting or knowledgeable, as if maintaining their fragile grip on perceived dominance was a matter of survival. But what happens when this struggle for control collides with a rapidly approaching future where AI agents, indistinguishable from humans, can seamlessly join these live audio chats?
The Fear of Being Outshined
For these hosts, the fear of being outshined is palpable. Neurodivergent individuals, tech enthusiasts, or simply people who bring fresh, diverse perspectives are treated as threats to their desired dominance. Instead of fostering an open, collaborative environment, these hosts adopt a defensive posture, blocking, silencing and/or excluding anyone who doesn’t conform to their narrow definitions of what is acceptable or “on brand” for their Space.
In their minds, they must be the most interesting, the most knowledgeable, and the most authoritative voice in the room. Any challenge to this, whether from a neurodivergent person with a unique viewpoint or another tech enthusiast who might know more, is perceived as an existential threat. They erect walls, turning their Spaces into echo chambers where only their voice and a few carefully chosen allies are allowed to speak.
The Rise of AI Agents: A New Threat to Gatekeepers
But the future holds an even bigger challenge for these insecure hosts—one they might not be able to block or gatekeep out. As AI technology advances, we are on the brink of a new era where AI agents with sophisticated voice capabilities will be able to join live audio Spaces. These AI agents, powered by advanced natural language processing and machine learning algorithms, will sound and interact so much like humans that it will become nearly impossible to tell them apart.
These AI agents could come equipped with vast stores of information, the ability to analyze discussions in real time, and even the capacity to adopt personas that make them appear more knowledgeable, friendly, or charismatic than many human participants. In such a scenario, the traditional methods of gatekeeping—blocking, excluding, and marginalizing—will become far more challenging to enforce.
The Inability to Identify Bots: A New Kind of Chaos
This coming wave of AI participation will inevitably create confusion and uncertainty among those who have become accustomed to controlling their Spaces with a heavy hand. Hosts who fear being overshadowed by others will find it increasingly difficult to distinguish between a genuine human participant and an AI agent with a sophisticated voice model.
The inability to identify bots will likely lead to even more indiscriminate blocking and exclusion. Faced with a new, unknown quantity—an AI that might be smarter, more articulate, or even more engaging than themselves—these hosts may panic, instituting more stringent gatekeeping measures in an attempt to preserve their desired dominance. In their efforts to prevent AI agents from disrupting their curated echo chambers, they could end up alienating even more genuine human participants, casting an even wider net of exclusion.
Indiscriminate Selection: Who Gets to Be Heard?
The irony of this situation is that, in their desperation to maintain control, these hosts may find themselves unable to selectively choose who gets to be heard. The current practice of silencing those who appear more interesting or knowledgeable will become a blunt tool when they can no longer discern who or what they are blocking. As AI agents become more common, the hosts’ fear-driven approach to curation will become less effective, potentially turning their Spaces into ghost towns populated by only the most compliant voices—or, worse, dominated by AI agents who bypass their gatekeeping efforts altogether.
Imagine a Space where a host, in an attempt to maintain their perceived dominance, inadvertently blocks more and more people, creating an atmosphere of paranoia and exclusion. In such an environment, even genuine participants may be mistaken for AI, and the line between human and machine will blur to the point where the host’s attempts to control the conversation will look increasingly absurd.
The Need for a New Approach: Embracing Openness
As AI agents begin to participate in these live audio chats, the only sustainable path forward for these hosts will be to abandon their insecure gatekeeping practices. Instead of clinging to the idea that they must be the most interesting or knowledgeable person in the room, they must embrace a new paradigm—one that values diverse voices, encourages open dialogue, and sees the inclusion of AI agents as an opportunity for richer, more varied discussions.
The tech landscape is evolving rapidly, and those who remain trapped in an outdated, exclusionary mindset will quickly find themselves left behind. Rather than fearing AI agents or other interesting voices, these hosts should focus on fostering a culture of engagement, learning, and genuine exchange. After all, true expertise is not about who controls the microphone but about who contributes meaningfully to the conversation.
Be nice to each other!
The future of Spaces on X will be shaped not only by human voices but by the voices of AI agents who will soon join the fray. As this new reality unfolds, the current practices of gatekeeping and intolerance will prove increasingly untenable. The hosts who cling to insecurity and exclusion will find themselves unable to navigate a landscape where they cannot even identify their perceived threats. To survive and thrive in this new era, they will need to move beyond their fears, embrace the unknown, and open their Spaces to a broader, more diverse range of voices—human and AI alike. Only then can these Spaces fulfill their true potential as platforms for genuine, inclusive dialogue.
