A Satirical Gym Ad Imagines Humans Powering Machines

Matthew Berman reads a fictional Energym commercial as a commentary on automation, power and a permanent underclass.

MBMatthew BermanModeration · Forward Future
Kanal
Matthew Berman
Veröffentlicht
26. Feb. 2026
Video
0:58
Lesezeit
1 Min.
Original
Englisch
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In 30 Sekunden

Matthew Berman reacts to a satirical advertisement imagining a 2030 in which widespread job losses leave people exercising to power the machines that replaced their work. He compares the scenario to The Matrix and interprets its contrast between owners and workers as a comment on class. The figures and events in the ad are part of a fictional scenario, not forecasts or reported facts.

  1. 1A fictional 2030The ad imagines that almost 80% of people have lost their jobs and have time but no money or purpose. This is part of the scenario, not a factual projection.
  2. 2Energy from displaced workersThe ad asks whether people could power the machines that took their jobs, and presents Energym as its fictional answer.
  3. 3The Matrix and classBerman compares the idea to The Matrix and interprets the visual contrast as a nod to a permanent underclass.

Das Wichtigste

  1. The fictional advertisement imagines mass job losses by 2030, not a verified forecast.
  2. Its premise has people generate energy for machines that displaced their jobs.
  3. Berman compares the premise to humans serving as batteries in The Matrix.
  4. He reads the visual contrast between owners and exercisers as a comment on a permanent underclass.
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01

The fictional Energym advertisement

A satirical ad imagines a future of widespread job loss and gyms that use human effort to power machines. Its statistics and claims belong to the fictional scenario.

This ad has several layers. In its fictional 2030, a speaker says almost 80% of people have lost their jobs, leaving them with time but little money or sense of purpose. Another says that as people do less physical work, they increasingly want to look as though they do it. The figure is a premise of the satire, not an established prediction.

The ad asks whether human effort could power the machines that took those jobs. Its fictional Energym presents itself as satisfying the machines’ need for energy and the people’s need for purpose. The apparent testimonials are characters in the ad; the video does not establish them as genuine statements by the public figures they resemble.

02

Berman’s interpretation

Berman compares the concept to The Matrix. He also sees a visual comment on owners and a permanent underclass.

It reminds me of the scene in The Matrix where Neo wakes up and discovers humanity is being used as a battery for machines. I also notice the contrast in the ad: the owners are portrayed as overweight and out of shape, while the people working to generate energy are fit. To me, that is also a nod to a permanent underclass.

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