I Saw the NYC-Dublin Portal in Action—Now They’re Using AI to Blur Blinking and Smoking? Here’s What’s Going On
When I first saw the viral clips of the NYC-Dublin portal—two cities connected by a live video feed—I was honestly amazed. I loved the concept: real people, in real time, waving and connecting from across the world. But like many of you, I noticed some weird moments too. People staring awkwardly. Some blinking non-stop. And yes, a few folks lighting up cigarettes or vaping in full view.
Now, I’ve just learned that the creators of the portal are planning to use AI to blur certain behaviors—specifically blinking, smoking, and other “non-essential” actions. At first, I thought… wait, what? Why would blinking be a problem?
Apparently, the ultra-high-definition video feed and motion-sensing cameras pick up even the tiniest twitches. So when someone blinks too often or moves strangely, the AI sees it as a glitch or potential “misuse” of the portal. And the smoking? That’s been flagged as inappropriate for public-facing global art.
I get it—this is cutting-edge tech mixed with human behavior, and not everything translates perfectly on screen. But honestly, part of me wonders if blurring out natural human actions makes the experience feel less… human.
The team behind the project says the new AI filters will make the interaction smoother and less “awkward.” I’m all for smoother tech, but I also hope we don’t sanitize the raw magic of people just being people—even if they’re blinking too much or holding a vape.
If you’ve stood in front of the portal like I have, you know how surreal it feels. It’s connection in the most unexpected way. But as AI gets involved, I just hope the soul of it doesn’t get blurred out, too.
