[a16z: In the AI Era, What’s Truly Scarce Is Not 'Taste,' But the Social Infrastructure for Cultivating Judgment] Beating AI Newsflash, a16z partner Tim Sullivan published an article stating that as AI significantly reduces the cost of content production, the surge in 'junk content' (slop) and the moral panic surrounding AI-created works are not new phenomena. Historically, every time production costs dropped—from Grub Street, cheap newspapers, pulp novels to television, blogs, and social media—it led to an influx of low-cost content and similar cultural controversies. The article cites social science research suggesting that 'taste' is not a singular ability but may encompass mechanisms such as the ability to judge success, access to cross-community information, and professional judgment developed through long-term training. Research from Columbia University shows that social influence and path dependency significantly affect whether a work ultimately becomes a hit, making it difficult even for experts to consistently predict true successes. The article also references sociologist Ron Burt's 'structural holes' theory, which posits that truly innovative individuals often exist between different communities, gaining unique perspectives through cross-community interactions. While AI can quickly access information across various fields, it struggles to fully replace the tacit knowledge, trust, and experience accumulated by humans through active participation in multiple social networks. Sullivan argues that in the age of AI, the more critical role for humans may shift toward verification and judgment, which require cultivation through apprenticeship, feedback, and long-term practice. If companies reduce training systems due to AI replacing entry-level positions, they may lower costs in the short term but risk a future shortage of talent with mature judgment. Therefore, what may truly become scarce in the AI era is not 'taste' itself, but the talent, networks, and social infrastructure necessary for fostering sound judgment. [Original Link]