"In an era of synthetic perfection, your flaws are now the ultimate watermark of your authenticity." - Futurist Jim Carroll
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Futurist Jim Carroll is writing his end-of-2025 / introduction-to-2026 series, 26 Principles for 2026. You can follow along at 2026.jimcarroll.com. He welcomes your comments.
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Rather than hiding our mistakes, we should celebrate them!
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I'm back!
I've put a lot of thought into this series. I know that you likely aren't reading every one - and indeed, if you are like most people, you are simply skimming what's here.
Today, you need to skim this key point - in 2026 and beyond, you need to take the time to secure your most valuable asset: Your humanity.
How do you do that?
Share your flaws. Highlight your failures. Document your mistakes.
Admit you are human!
There's no doubt that with AI moving as fast as it is, we stand on the precipice of a strange new era - we could call it the “Age of Infinite Perfection.” Synthetic media, algorithmic amplification, and automated engagement surround us. Slop, we've called it. And it is quickly leading to what some have called the "dead Internet," a world where a staggering percentage of online traffic and content generation is generated by non-human sources. Generated by AI, indexed by algorithms, and served to you based on what a machine thinks you need to see.
And the problem with a lot of this is that the machines are getting so good that they are getting close to absolute perfection. Have you seen the latest with AI video? Have you looked at an image and had to check yourself to remember that its;' from an AI? Have you been duped by an artist with stunningly powerful music only to discover it's an AI?
I have!
Check out Let Babylon Burn. Listen to this song. I had it on repeat for a month before I realized it wasn't real!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86VjmpHa10A
If you are a brand, a product, a company or an individual, how will you ever manage to stand out among the slop? Or stuff that is so perfect, it fools you into believing it's real?
In this environment, the trust that people have in people, companies, brands, and transactions is dropping to zero. Some call it the 'trust floor.' Not only that, but we are all getting access to the same tools that allow us to generate perfection on demand.
When everyone is perfect, what stands out? Failure! Mistakes! Imperfection!
Flaws.
What's the solution? Embracing the idea of Kintsugi!
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**#Authenticity** **#Kintsugi** **#Flaws** **#Failure** **#Trust** **#Humanity** **#Imperfection** **#Vulnerability** **#Transparency** **#Perfection**
Futurist Jim Carroll has made a lot of mistakes. He's proud of most of them.
Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2025/12/decoding-tomorrow-mastering-2026-24-trust-capital-in-an-era-of-synthetic-perfection-your-flaws-are-now-the-ultimate-watermark-of-your-authenticity/