You see a lot of visuals on LinkedIn. Most are forgettable. Some are cheap scroll-stoppers. And a rare few are actually great.

On Thursdays, I examine a visual, or “Intellectual Headshot” as I call them, that caught my eye, and break down why it works (or doesn’t).

Today, it’s a viral chart that tells us everything and nothing at the same time. Let’s hop in.

A bit of levity today.

You probably saw this visual from the Financial Times making the rounds this week — I saw it posted by several people across a few platforms, so I won't call out anyone in particular.

(My apologies in advance if you reposted it yourself.)

The chart:

It’s both a literal and perhaps unintentionally comical representation of the broad spectrum of opinions of AI’s potential impact on Real GDP per capita.

As you see right away, the visualized scenarios are as striking and deadpan as the chart’s title.

AI innovation could:

• End global scarcity
• End humanity
• Or, simply a fuel a modest lift to the long-term trend

Helpful, right? 😑

So, is this a “good” visual?

Well, it depends on its purpose.

Data visualizations are certainly helpful tools to reinforce a point, so as a visual aid to support the FT’s original article, which is a commentary on the broad range expert opinions on potential outcomes, I’d say this somewhat silly chart actually does its job.

(Though, it’s worth mentioning that the Financial Times itself recently excoriated a McKinsey bubble chart on the same topic that quite similarly had no “So, what?” I featured it here in November as an anti-example.)

As for the hundreds of other people that decided to repost it to LinkedIn, Threads, X etc. with a funny quip for a quick jolt of impressions and likes?

For them, this can be filed under what I’ll respectfully call ‘cheap scroll-stopping meme fluff’.

It might help you with a micro-boost in visibility on a slow afternoon, but it's not all that helpful for your audience, and ultimately forgettable.

And naturally, none of the reposters I came across bothered to find, much less share, the link to the original article.

Super helpful indeed. 🫠

💡

-Wes