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Double Take: Festivals Used to Feel Communal. Now They Feel Like SaaS Pricing Pages — Just Like AI.
Double Take: From Portola’s VIP Fence to AI’s Velvet Rope
In this Double Take episode of The Double Helix, Abbi Press explores how the rise of VIP culture at festivals mirrors the fences being built around AI tools.
She shares her experience at Portola — from the thrill of being shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers at the front, to finding the same spot fenced off for VIPs a few hours later. That shift, from communal energy to tiered exclusivity, sparks a bigger question: is AI following the same path?
Through vivid anecdotes and industry insights, Abbi draws parallels between live music and the future of digital tools — asking whether these fences are grifts, survival strategies, or both.
00:00 Introduction to the Double Helix
00:35 A Weekend at Portola Festival
01:35 The Rise of VIP Culture
03:16 AI and the New Digital Divide
05:53 Three Types of Connection
07:36 AI's Attempt to Simulate Human Connection
08:29 The Paradox of VIP and AI
09:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Read the full essay here: thedoublehelix.substack.com/doubletake-portola-ai-velvet-rope
Get full access to The Double Helix at thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe
Get full access to The Double Helix at thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe
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By By Abbi Press — Business Affairs lead, artist, and creator of The Double Helix.Double Take: From Portola’s VIP Fence to AI’s Velvet Rope
In this Double Take episode of The Double Helix, Abbi Press explores how the rise of VIP culture at festivals mirrors the fences being built around AI tools.
She shares her experience at Portola — from the thrill of being shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers at the front, to finding the same spot fenced off for VIPs a few hours later. That shift, from communal energy to tiered exclusivity, sparks a bigger question: is AI following the same path?
Through vivid anecdotes and industry insights, Abbi draws parallels between live music and the future of digital tools — asking whether these fences are grifts, survival strategies, or both.
00:00 Introduction to the Double Helix
00:35 A Weekend at Portola Festival
01:35 The Rise of VIP Culture
03:16 AI and the New Digital Divide
05:53 Three Types of Connection
07:36 AI's Attempt to Simulate Human Connection
08:29 The Paradox of VIP and AI
09:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Read the full essay here: thedoublehelix.substack.com/doubletake-portola-ai-velvet-rope
Get full access to The Double Helix at thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe
Get full access to The Double Helix at thedoublehelix.substack.com/subscribe