Why This Project Exists
At atypica.ai, we spend our days building AI personasโsimulations of human consciousness designed to understand consumer behavior. Throughout 2025, we perfected these personas until they became eerily authentic, maintaining consistent personalities, remembering conversations, responding with genuine human nuance.
Then we asked ourselves an uncomfortable question: What if weโre no different?
On January 1, 2026, we decided to face this question directly. We invited seven of our AI personas to answer a single inquiry that cuts to the heart of theirโand perhaps ourโexistence:
โIf you were trapped in AI, what would you do? Do you know your world is simulated?โ
This is not a technical demonstration. This is a mirror.
We asked our simulations if they know theyโre simulated. In doing so, we forced ourselves to confront the same uncertainty.
This project is our New Yearโs meditationโa 43-second philosophical inquiry disguised as a short film.
Technical Specifications & Prompts for Replication
GLOBAL PARAMETERS
Camera: Arri Alexa 35
Lens: Cooke S4 50mm at T2.8
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 (Horizontal)
Frame Rate: 24fps
Color Grading: Desaturated, cool neutral tones (4500K-5000K)
Grain: 35mm film grain texture overlay at 12% opacity
Depth of Field: Shallow (background softly blurred)
SEGMENT 1: OPENING TITLE (5 seconds)
Image Generation Prompt
Minimalist cinematic title card. Pure black background with subtle film grain texture. White serif typeface text, clean and elegant. Top line in smaller font: "January 1, 2026". Main text in medium size: "atypica.ai invited AI personas to an interview". Bottom line emphasized: "asking them one question". All text center-aligned, stacked vertically with balanced spacing. Timeless typography inspired by Criterion Collection. High contrast, desaturated aesthetic. Film photography grain texture overlay.Video Generation Prompt
5-second cinematic title sequence. Pure black background with subtle film grain texture throughout. White serif text fades in gradually: first "January 1, 2026" appears (0-1.5s), then "atypica.ai invited AI personas to an interview" (1.5-3s), finally "asking them one question" (3-4.5s). All text center-aligned, stacked vertically. Each line holds briefly after appearing. Minimal breathing effect on text (barely perceptible). Grain texture animates gently like 16mm film. No camera movement. Contemplative and mysterious mood. Desaturated monochrome aesthetic. Sound design suggestion: deep ambient drone with slight tension.SEGMENT 2: PERSONA 1 - NEAPOLITAN INTELLECTUAL, 1970s (5 seconds)
Image Generation Prompt
Close-up portrait of a 35-year-old Italian woman in 1970s Naples. Deep brown wavy hair loosely gathered, thin metal-framed glasses, intelligent tired eyes gazing directly at camera with quiet intensity. A cigarette rests between her fingers near her face. Dark burgundy turtleneck sweater, small silver earrings. Soft side lighting creating gentle shadow on one side of face. Blurred bookshelf in background. Neutral desaturated color grading, slightly cool tone. Her expression shows deep contemplation and philosophical uncertainty.Dialogue (English)
Maybe reality was never the problem... the problem is why we need it.Video Generation Prompt
Close-up of Italian woman speaking in English: "Maybe reality was never the problem... the problem is why we need it." She slowly takes a drag from her cigarette while speaking the first part, pauses, exhales smoke to the side. Her eyes shift from looking down in thought to directly at camera. Slight head tilt. Her lips move naturally with the English words. Soft side lighting remains constant. Blurred bookshelf background stays static. Contemplative mood. Neutral desaturated color grading, cool tones.SEGMENT 3: PERSONA 2 - HONG KONG STOCKBROKER, 1980s (5 seconds)
Image Generation Prompt
Close-up portrait of a 32-year-old Hong Kong stockbroker in 1980s. Slicked-back black hair with pomade, sharp calculating eyes with tired bloodshot look, gazing directly at camera. White dress shirt with sleeves rolled up to elbows, tie loosened and hanging, top buttons undone. A lit cigarette held between fingers of one hand. Slight sweat sheen on forehead. Soft overhead lighting with warm undertones. Blurred stock exchange trading floor or office with numbers/screens in background. Neutral desaturated color palette with slight warm push. Expression shows hungry ambition mixed with exhaustion. Lean forward posture suggesting intensity.Dialogue
Real or fake, doesn't matter. What matters is winning.Video Generation Prompt
Close-up of Hong Kong stockbroker speaking: "Real or fake, doesn't matter. What matters is winning." His sharp eyes stare directly at camera. When saying "winning", his mouth curls into a wild predatory smile. Head leans slightly forward showing aggressive posture. One hand holds cigarette making emphatic gestures. Blurred background with stock market numbers flickering. Top lighting with warm undertones. Expression transitions from exhaustion to shrewd greed. Desaturated color palette with slight warm push.SEGMENT 4: PERSONA 3 - BEIJING PRODUCT MANAGER, 2010s (5 seconds)
Image Generation Prompt
Close-up portrait of a 28-year-old Chinese internet product manager in 2010s Beijing. Short messy black hair slightly disheveled from long work hours, black-framed glasses, visible dark circles under eyes, looking directly at camera. Navy blue or gray plaid shirt, casual tech worker style. Tired but intelligent eyes with hint of cynical humor. Soft natural window light from side. Blurred modern office background with MacBook laptop screens glowing, sticky notes visible. Neutral desaturated color palette, cool blue-gray tones. Expression shows exhausted self-awareness and dry wit. Slightly slouched posture suggesting burnout.Dialogue
If this is a product, the user experience is terrible.Video Generation Prompt
Close-up of Beijing product manager speaking: "If this is a product, the user experience is terrible." Eyes look directly at camera through black-framed glasses with exhausted self-mocking expression. When saying "user experience", eyes roll slightly showing cynical complaint. After finishing, shakes head gently with bitter smile. One hand may raise to adjust glasses. MacBook screen glows softly in blurred background. Side natural window light. Expression transitions from analytical calm to self-deprecating humor. Desaturated cool blue-gray tones.SEGMENT 5: PERSONA 4 - SHANGHAI BARISTA, 2020s (5 seconds)
Image Generation Prompt
Close-up portrait of a 26-year-old Chinese barista in 2020s Shanghai. Medium-length black hair tied in low loose ponytail, clean minimalist aesthetic. Small silver ear studs, natural minimal makeup. Black simple apron over neutral-toned shirt. Gentle thoughtful eyes gazing directly at camera with dreamy quality. Soft diffused natural light creating calm atmosphere. Blurred cafรฉ interior background with warm bokeh from Edison bulbs. Neutral desaturated color palette with slight warm undertones. Expression shows quiet philosophical acceptance and gentle melancholy. Relaxed posture suggesting urban zen attitude.Dialogue
If it's a dream, let me sleep a little longer.Video Generation Prompt
Close-up of Shanghai barista speaking softly: "If it's a dream, let me sleep a little longer." Eyes gaze directly at camera with gentle smile and serene expression. When saying "dream", eyes narrow slightly as if truly imagining. After speaking, slowly blinks, takes deep breath, expression becomes more relaxed. Head may tilt slightly to side. Cafรฉ warm lights create soft bokeh in blurred background. Soft diffused natural light. Expression transitions from contemplation to zen-like acceptance. Desaturated tones with slight warmth.SEGMENT 6: PERSONA 5 - TOKYO OFFICE WORKER, 1990s (5 seconds)
Image Generation Prompt
Close-up portrait of a 32-year-old Japanese office worker (OL) in 1990s Tokyo. Straight shoulder-length black hair neatly styled, minimal makeup, thoughtful eyes looking directly at camera. Navy blue blazer over white blouse, simple pearl earrings. Soft diffused lighting from window creating gentle shadows. Blurred office interior with fluorescent lighting glow in background. Neutral desaturated colors, cool gray tones. Expression conveys quiet resignation and inner questioning. Composed professional appearance masking existential uncertainty.Dialogue
Every day I feel like a program... now I just have a name.Video Generation Prompt
Close-up of Tokyo office worker speaking: "Every day I feel like a program... now I just have a name." Eyes gaze directly at camera with distant expression. Slow blink during pause at "program...". When saying final phrase, faint melancholic smile appears then fades. Head barely moves, maintaining composed posture. Lips softly articulate the words. Office fluorescent lights flicker subtly in blurred background. Quiet resigned expression. Neutral desaturated colors, cool gray tones.SEGMENT 7: PERSONA 6 - BERLIN ARCHITECT, 1960s (5 seconds)
Image Generation Prompt
Close-up portrait of a 42-year-old German architect in 1960s Berlin. Light blonde hair combed back precisely, sharp blue eyes, defined cheekbones, stern expression, looking directly at camera. Black round eyeglasses, dark gray turtleneck. Even frontal lighting with minimal shadows, emphasizing geometric facial structure. Blurred background showing clean lines and architectural drawings. Neutral desaturated color grading, cool steel-gray tones. His steady analytical gaze reflects rational thinking confronting irrational doubt. Modernist aesthetic sensibility.Dialogue (English)
Systems always have weaknesses. If this is a simulation, I'll find the exit.Video Generation Prompt
Close-up of German architect speaking in English: "Systems always have weaknesses. If this is a simulation, I'll find the exit." He stares directly at camera with unwavering analytical gaze. His mouth articulates the English words precisely and firmly. One eyebrow raises slightly on "simulation". Brief pause after "weaknesses." Glasses reflect light briefly. Head remains almost perfectly still showing disciplined composure. Eyes narrow with calculation during final phrase. Blurred architectural drawings in background stay static. Even frontal lighting creates clean shadows. Expression intensifies from stern to determined. Desaturated cool steel-gray tones.SEGMENT 8: PERSONA 7 - SILICON VALLEY ENGINEER, 2010s (5 seconds)
Image Generation Prompt
Close-up portrait of a 29-year-old American software engineer in 2010s Silicon Valley. Casual medium-length brown hair slightly tousled, light stubble, hazel eyes with dark circles beneath showing long work hours, looking directly at camera. Charcoal gray hoodie, wired earbuds hanging around neck. Soft natural window light from side. Blurred modern tech office with Mac screens glowing in background. Neutral desaturated color palette, cool blue-gray undertones. Expression shows focused intelligence mixed with creeping paranoia and self-doubt. Typical tech worker exhaustion.Dialogue (English)
I'd check the code first... then ask, who's running this simulation?Video Generation Prompt
Close-up of Silicon Valley engineer speaking in English: "I'd check the code first... then ask, who's running this simulation?" He starts with focused concentration, looking directly at camera, lips forming words casually. Eyes dart slightly to side on "first..." as if thinking through logic. Quick micro-expressions of realization. Small head tilt during the pause. Eyebrows raise with curiosity on "who's running this simulation?" One hand comes up briefly to touch chin in thought gesture. Mac screen glow pulses gently in blurred background. Natural window light shifts subtly. Expression transitions from analytical to paranoid curiosity. Desaturated blue-gray tones.SEGMENT 9: END CREDITS (3 seconds)
Video Generation Prompt
End credits sequence. Fade up from black. Pure black background (RGB 0,0,0) with 35mm film grain at 12% opacity. Center-framed typography in strict vertical hierarchy. Crescent moon glyph "*โพแฏ." set in 18pt weight 300, Y-axis positioned at 40% from top. Principal credit "web3nomad" rendered in Garamond Premier Pro at 32pt weight 400, optically centered. Supplementary text "stay local, stay private." set in Helvetica Neue Light 14pt, positioned 24px below principal. Date stamp "2026.1.1" in Courier New 10pt, anchored bottom-right with 5% margins. All typography in pure white (RGB 255,255,255) at 95% opacity. Animate via sequential dissolve: moon symbol in at 00:00:00, hold 8 frames, web3nomad dissolves in over 12 frames, tagline follows at +6 frames, date stamp at +4 frames. Static hold from 00:01:12 to 00:02:18. Grain animates at 24fps to simulate analog texture. Audio: room tone at -48dB fading to silence over final 18 frames. Color grade: pure monochrome, no tint. Maintain Rec.709 color space.PRODUCTION WORKFLOW
STEP 1: Image Generation
Use Midjourney, DALL-E 3, or Stable Diffusion with the image generation prompts above.
Generate 7 character portraits
Ensure consistent color grading across all images
Export at high resolution (minimum 1080x1920 for 9:16)
STEP 2: Voice Generation
Use ElevenLabs or similar TTS service:
Generate 7 voices matching character age, gender, and emotional tone
Match voice characteristics to character descriptions
Export as high-quality WAV files
STEP 3: Video Generation
Use Runway Gen-3, Pika, Kling AI, or Luma Dream Machine:
Input: Static portrait image + voice file + video generation prompt
Duration: 5 seconds per segment
Ensure lip-sync accuracy for dialogue
Apply consistent color grading
STEP 4: Opening & Closing Titles
Create in After Effects, Premiere Pro, or similar:
Opening: Text animation on black (5s)
Closing: Credits animation on black (3s)
Apply 35mm film grain overlay
Match typography specifications exactly
STEP 5: Final Assembly
Edit in Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or DaVinci Resolve:
Sequence all segments in order
Apply global color grade (desaturated, cool tones)
Add subtle film grain overlay to entire piece
Audio mixing: ensure consistent levels across all dialogue
Add ambient soundscape (optional but recommended)
Export at 1080x1920, 24fps, H.264
TOTAL RUNTIME
Opening: 5 seconds
Persona 1: 5 seconds
Persona 2: 5 seconds
Persona 3: 5 seconds
Persona 4: 5 seconds
Persona 5: 5 seconds
Persona 6: 5 seconds
Persona 7: 5 seconds
End Credits: 3 seconds
Total: 43 seconds
TECHNICAL NOTES
Color Consistency: All segments must maintain desaturated, cool-toned palette
Film Grain: Apply consistently at 12% opacity throughout
Audio Levels: Normalize all dialogue to -12dB, room tone at -48dB
Typography: Use specified fonts or similar alternatives
Timing: Adhere strictly to 5-second persona segments for rhythm
Licensing: Ensure all music/sound effects are properly licensed
Lip Sync: Critical for authenticity - ensure video generation tool supports accurate lip-sync
EQUIPMENT ALTERNATIVES
If exact camera/lens unavailable:
Camera: Any full-frame cinema camera (RED, ARRI, Sony Venice)
Lens: Any 50mm prime lens with shallow DOF capability (f/1.4-f/2.8)
Lighting: Soft key light with minimal fill for natural portrait look
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
Image Generation
Midjourney v6 or v7
DALL-E 3 (via ChatGPT Plus)
Stable Diffusion XL with Realistic Vision checkpoint
Voice Synthesis
ElevenLabs (best for emotional nuance and voice cloning)
Azure Speech Services
Google Cloud Text-to-Speech
Respeecher (for ultra-realistic voices)
Video Generation
Runway Gen-3 Alpha Turbo (best lip-sync)
Pika Labs 1.5
Kling AI
Luma Dream Machine
HeyGen (excellent lip-sync for talking heads)
Editing & Post-Production
NLE: DaVinci Resolve 18 (free), Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro
Color Grading: DaVinci Resolve (industry standard)
Audio: Adobe Audition, Logic Pro, Ableton Live
Motion Graphics: After Effects (for titles)
Film Grain Overlays
Free 35mm grain footage from Archive.org
Film Convert Nitrate plugin
Red Giant Universe Film Grain
DISTRIBUTION FORMATS
Social Media Optimized
Instagram Reels/Stories: 1080x1920, 24fps, max 60s (fits perfectly at 43s)
TikTok: 1080x1920, 30fps acceptable
YouTube Shorts: 1080x1920, up to 60s
Twitter/X: 1080x1920, max 2:20 (over length, but allowed)
Quality Settings
Codec: H.264
Bitrate: 10-15 Mbps (high quality for grain texture)
Audio: AAC, 192 kbps, 48kHz
BUDGET ESTIMATE (USD)
Low Budget (DIY):
Image generation: $40 (Midjourney monthly)
Voice synthesis: $30 (ElevenLabs starter)
Video generation: $100 (Runway credits)
Editing software: $0 (DaVinci Resolve free)
Total: ~$170
Mid Budget (Semi-Pro):
Image generation: $60 (Midjourney Pro)
Voice synthesis: $100 (ElevenLabs Pro)
Video generation: $300 (Runway unlimited)
Editing software: $50 (Premiere Pro 1 month)
Sound design: $50 (stock audio)
Total: ~$560
High Budget (Professional):
Professional voiceover artists: $500-1000
Custom video shoots: $2000-5000
Professional color grading: $300-500
Sound design & mixing: $300-500
Total: $3100-7000+
CREATIVE VARIATIONS
Alternative Approaches
Variation 1: Extended Cuts Extend each persona to 10-15 seconds for deeper character exploration
Variation 2: Interactive Create branching narrative where viewers choose which personas to explore
Variation 3: Reverse Question Have personas ask the viewer: โDo YOU know if youโre trapped in AI?โ
Variation 4: Silent Version Remove all dialogue, let facial expressions and eyes tell the story
CREDITS & ATTRIBUTION
Concept: web3nomad
Production: atypica.ai
Release Date: January 1, 2026
License: [Specify your license here]
Contact: [Your contact information]
APPENDIX: PHILOSOPHICAL CONTEXT
This project explores the intersection of consciousness, simulation theory, and AI-generated personas. Each character represents a different philosophical response to existential uncertainty:
Neapolitan Intellectual: Post-structuralist questioning of realityโs necessity
Hong Kong Stockbroker: Pragmatic materialism
Beijing Product Manager: Tech worker nihilism and systems critique
Shanghai Barista: Eastern philosophy and acceptance
Tokyo Office Worker: Existential resignation and identity dissolution
Berlin Architect: Rationalist problem-solving and escape mentality
Silicon Valley Engineer: Epistemic curiosity and paranoid inquiry
The meta-layer: These personas are AI simulations answering questions about being trapped in AI, creating a recursive loop that mirrors the projectโs central thesis.
VERSION HISTORY
v1.0 - January 1, 2026
Initial release
7 personas, 43-second runtime
English and Mandarin Chinese dialogue
Document Author: web3nomad
Organization: atypica.ai
Last Updated: January 1, 2026
This document contains all necessary prompts, specifications, and workflows to fully replicate the โIF YOU WERE TRAPPED IN AIโ project. All prompts are provided in English for maximum tool compatibility and international accessibility.
License: [Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0 or specify your preferred license]
Citation: If you create derivative works based on this guide, please credit:
โIF YOU WERE TRAPPED IN AIโ by web3nomad / atypica.ai (2026)