We’ve all done it. You’re on the subway, in a coffee shop, anywhere people-watching is fair game. Someone’s lost in their own world, thumbs scrolling, eyes closed, a faint smile playing on their lips. And you catch yourself wondering: *What’s on their playlist right now?*
Lately, I’ve noticed this curiosity isn’t just for real life. It’s crept into how we interact with AI art too.
Take that viral Reddit post from last week: a MidJourney-generated image of a guy lounging in a neon-lit room, vintage synth on the desk, retro headphones snug over his dreads. The caption? Simple: “What might he be listening to?”
Hundreds of comments popped up. Some guessed Flying Lotus. Others swore it was early Daft Punk. One person insisted it had to be a smooth jazz remix of *Sesame Street* theme songs. (Hey, no judgment.)
It got me thinking: **why do we care so much about the imaginary soundtrack of an AI-made character?**
Maybe it’s because humans are hardwired to fill in blanks. We see a sliver of a story—a furrowed brow, a half-unzipped jacket, a guitar leaning against a wall—and our brains rush to complete the scene. Even when we *know* it’s not real.
AI images give us just enough detail to spark imagination but leave room to daydream. That’s their quiet magic.
### Why We Can’t Help But Imagine Their Playlist
– **We’re story junkies.** For thousands of years, we’ve used music to tell stories. Now, when we see someone’s *vibe*, we instinctively tie it to a genre or decade.
– **It’s a low-stakes guessing game.** In real life, judgment might backfire. But with a digital character? No harm done. Wild guesses are part of the fun.
– **AI leaves room for us.** MidJourney images feel complete visually but lack context layers. We project meaning where the pixels end.
There’s a flip side, though. In real life, music taste isn’t tied to appearance—ever met a punk-loving metalhead? But with AI? Lean into the daydream. That synth-lover *could* be spinning vaporwave loops, rehearsing beatboxing, or remastering 8-bit oboe covers. It’s all in your head—and that’s the point.
So next time you spot an AI character mid-daydream, ask yourself: What’s their lighting saying? Where’s the camera angled? What genre ties this whole look together?
You won’t get it “right.” But isn’t the guessing half the joy?
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*Check out the [original Reddit thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/midjourney/comments/1mt18wz/what_might_he_be_listening_to/). No one knows what’s actually humming through those pixels—but man, we’ve got opinions.*