Sticking to What is True

Have you ever noticed how sometimes reality can be hard to recognize? Normally, you would think what is true would be easy to spot. You hear a political candidate speak, for instance. They sound so sincere, forceful, and, yes, even certain as if what they are saying is spot-on accurate. Then, some time later, perhaps even within hours, we learn that what they said was way off-base. Boy, talk about exasperation! You shake your head thinking how that candidate was so convincing. At the time, you had no doubt their message was as solid as smiles at a beauty pageant. For me, no matter how often people perpetuate falsehoods, it always comes as a surprise.


This type of  behavior makes recognizing reality a bit more of a challenge. In November, the folks at Mattel are going to add to that challenge  by introducing "Hello Barbie." This newest version of a children's doll that has been part of the American landscape for decades will have the ability to actually converse with little girls. That's right. Mattel's artificial intelligence team has created a doll that will do more than simply spew forth with some generic catch-phrases. This toy will be able to have a conversation with its owner. The goal, according to Mattel, will help its owner believe more strongly than ever that in "Hello Barbie" she has a good and true friend.


While Mattel and its workers are to be applauded for being so creative and ingenious, one can see the potential problems parents might have in convincing their children "Hello Barbie" is not a real person and, therefore, not something to become overly attached to. From a communication perspective, this new product raises the bar on how vigilant professional communicators need to be in helping the general public distinguish between what is real and what is not. Saying that, I recognize there are some communicators who actually contribute to the blurring of the line between truth and fiction. Those practitioners are to be shunned. There is no room for them when it comes to communicating.