To Infinity and Beyond... But Don't Leave Imagination Behind
Techstrong.ai, Monday, June 22nd, 2026
Using Toy Story 5, Alan Shimel warns that technology risks replacing imaginative play with passive consumption.
Alan Shimel draws on his family's long relationship with Toy Story to reflect on technology's role in childhood development.
He argues traditional toys' value lay in the imagination, creativity, and collaboration they demanded, not the objects themselves.
He contrasts this with modern digital experiences that often promote passive consumption over active creation.
Without opposing technology or AI, he advocates tools that expand rather than diminish creativity.
He calls for ensuring the next generation keeps creating and imagining rather than merely consuming.