In a world where we have to wait until 2026 for Survivor 50, we decided to take matters into our own hands—or technology's hands—and see how AI predicted things might go out in Fiji for the anniversary season.
Previously on AI Survivor 50... our first six players were eliminated from the game with no tribe coming forward as the clear frontrunner at the start of the season. With Devens' fake idol not tricking anyone on Vinaka before his elimination on day 5, the only advantage in the game is Christian's real idol, which doesn't gain power until the merge.
But with the competition down to 18 players, our castaways know that something has to be on the horizon that's bound to shake up their game.
Day 8 - Tribe Swap
All three of our tribes arrive at the challenge site, but there's something different in the air. That's when Jeff says, "Drop your buffs. We're switching tribes."
Everyone randomly selects a wrapped buff and opens it to reveal which tribe they are now a part of:
New Bula Tribe (Blue): Emily Flippen, Cirie Fields, Colby Donaldson, Genevieve Mushaluk, Benjamin "Coach" Wade, S49 #2
New Vinaka Tribe (Red): Dee Valladares, Kyle Fraser, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Joe Hunter, Tiffany Ervin, Aubry Bracco
New Mana Tribe (Yellow): Ozzy Lusth, Kamilla Karthigesu, Mike White, Christian Hubicki, Charlie Davis, S49 #1
Genevieve and Emily share a glance before a confessional explains they feel safer than ever with all these shields around. Kyle and Dee refuse to make eye contact, nervous that their fellow castaways won't like having two previous winners on the same tribe. Mike, Charlie, and Christian wordlessly acknowledge that they're in the best position in the game.
Immunity Challenge: Vinaka takes first place with Mana snagging second. Coach and Colby don't work well together, leading to Bula's return to Tribal Council.
After their performance in the challenge, Cirie, Emily, and Genevieve agree they need to vote one of the two men out. Emily pitches Coach as he's unpredictable. Coach tries to lock in his tribe mates against Colby with a "loyalty oath" to him, but they aren't here for it.
At Tribal Council, Jeff wonders if the tribe swap created new opportunities for any of the players. Coach goes on a long rant about how Survivor is subjective and therefore no one can dictate how he plays except for him, ending with, "I came here with a warrior's soul. That can't be snuffed."
One vote for Colby. Five votes for Coach.
Coach Wade is the seventh person voted out of AI Survivor 50.
Day 9
Emily, Genevieve, and Cirie return from Tribal Council quietly celebrating their control in the game. The next morning at Vinaka beach, Dee, Kyle, and Tiffany solidify an alliance and agree they should try to get rid of Joe before the merge to avoid a challenge run. Over at Mana, Christian, Charlie, and Mike are sitting pretty while Ozzy falls back into his classic provider role. Kamilla watches from the sidelines, worrying that the trio is too tight and thinks Ozzy's ego is ripe for manipulation.
Immunity Challenge: Mana secures first place, and Vinaka finishes just behind them in second. Bula is still flint-less and going back to Tribal Council for the fourth time in a row.
Back at camp, Emily, Cirie, and Genevieve debate whether they should take out Colby or if now is the time to turn on S49 #2, who has been playing a careful middle game and might be a threat in the upcoming merge. Genevieve suggests taking out Colby now and S49 #2 next time, but Cirie decides to plant some seeds of doubt against her alliance and tells S49 #2 that Genevieve floated their name. Colby doesn't do much to avoid the vote except telling Emily, "I'd go to rocks for you. I'm a dinosaur, but I'm a loyal one."
Jeff makes an observation at Tribal Council that this is the point in the game where even the smallest of fractures in an alliance can have major impacts. Cirie notes, "Every vote is a decision you explain at Final Tribal."
One vote S49 #2. Four votes Colby.
Colby Donaldson is the eighth person voted out of AI Survivor 50.
Day 10
With Colby now gone from the Bula tribe, Emily and Genevieve are trying to make S49 #2 feel comfortable, while Cirie is encouraging them to distrust Emily and Genevieve. Dee, Kyle, and Tiffany's alliance at Vinaka appears to fall apart as Joe and Kyle bond while fishing. Aubry leans into the fracture and proposes an all-girl vote against Kyle. Despite their winning streak, everyone on the Mana tribe is starting to get a little paranoid, worrying that everyone is a threat, trying to take each other out.
Immunity Challenge: Vinaka takes first while Bula comes from behind in second place, winning after Cirie solves the final puzzle, earning back their flint. Mana loses the challenge and their flint when Ozzy misplaces a puzzle piece.
Christian, Charlie, and Mike want to take out Kamilla, believing she's playing a game that will easily take her to the Final Three if left unchecked. But Kamilla pulls in S49 #1 and pitches that now is the time to strike on Ozzy. Christian hears the plan secondhand and is tempted to flip based on Ozzy's past.
Jeff opens Tribal Council by stating that now is the point in the game where players decide if they're here to survive or to win. Christian, still on the fence about which way to vote, voices, "It's also about subtlety. Who's weaving the best story, not just the most obvious one."
Three votes Ozzy. Three votes Kamilla.
With a tie, Kamilla and Ozzy sit out of a second vote and everyone places a secondary vote for one of them.
Four votes Kamilla.
Kamilla Karthigesu is the ninth person voted out of AI Survivor 50.
Day 11
Back at Mana camp, Ozzy realizes he's become too complacent and decides he needs to take control of the game. Emily and Genevieve begin to notice how Cirie is stirring the Bula tribe's pot and realize now is the time to turn, as they won't be able to beat her in the end. The all-girls side alliance at Vinaka is starting to lose power as it becomes noticeable that Dee is running things. Dee, sensing the vibes are off, proposes a "merge-safe six" with the entire Vinaka tribe, but Aubry is wary.
Immunity Challenge: First place goes to Bula, second to Mana—earning their flint back—and Vinaka comes in last place. They lose their flint and Jeff promises them a date with him at Tribal Council later that night.
Chaos erupts at Vinaka beach as everyone starts turning on everyone. Dee wants Aubry out, Kyle suggests Jenna, Tiffany is going after Kyle, and Joe is sitting as a swing vote and loving the power.
After a flurry of opening statements at Tribal Council, Jeff observes that, "Tonight's vote is about trust, but also about getting to tomorrow." Everyone agrees that with the merge coming up, having trust and making it to tomorrow might not be a certainty anymore. Aubry offers, "When the tide shifts, you can either swim with it or get sucked under." To which Joe, responds, "There are a lot of swimmers here tonight. Hope no one drowns."
One vote for Aubry. Five votes for Kyle.
Kyle Fraser is the tenth person voted out of AI Survivor 50.
Day 12 - Earn the Merge
All tribes wake up to boats arriving with a note instructing them to leave their buffs at camp and pack their bags because they're officially tribe-less. It's time to Earn the Merge.
Everyone arrives at the challenge site where Jeff announces that everyone will be divided into two teams for the challenge. The winning team will get a feast and a chance to to compete for individual immunity. The winner of the second challenge cannot be voted out at tonight's Tribal Council where someone will go home one day short of making the merge.
Earn the Merge Team Orange: Christian Hubicki, Emily Flippen, Tiffany Ervin, Genevieve Mushaluk, Charlie Davis, S49 #2, Ozzy Lusth
Earn the Merge Team Purple: Cirie Fields, Mike White, Dee Valladares, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Joe Hunter, S49 #1, Aubry Bracco
Team Immunity Challenge: After a grueling obstacle course where players have to dig under a net, carry weighted bags, pass over a balance beam, and solve a logic puzzle, the orange team is victorious with Christian and Emily dominating the puzzle stage.
Individual Immunity Challenge: The orange team must now hold onto a vertical pole for as long as possible. Exhausted from the obstacle course, players drop quickly until only Christian and Ozzy are left. In a shocking turn of events, Ozzy drops and Christian wins the first Individual Immunity of AI Survivor 50, officially making the merge.
The orange team enjoys the first food reward of the season so much that no one floats a name, worrying they'll become the target if they appear too eager to play.
Back at camp, the purple team is figuring out how they want to influence tonight's vote. Aubry and Jenna want to target Dee, knowing she's a clear threat. Cirie pulls in Mike and S49 #1 pitching Ozzy or Joe—they might not get another chance at them. Joe hears his name and immediately starts gathering people to blindside Cirie.
The tribes are reunited after the reward feast and conversations are more chaotic than ever.
Jeff welcomes everyone to Tribal Council with a grim message about how this is the worst vote of the season as someone's game will end one day before making the merge. He questions what camp was like as everyone navigated the vote this afternoon. Cirie declares, "In a game this short and sharp, the people who listen get farther than the people who talk."
Two votes for Cirie. Four votes for Dee. Eight votes for Joe.
Joe Hunter is the eleventh person voted out of AI Survivor 50.
Jeff announces the merge, handing out black buffs to each of the remaining players.
Motu Tribe (Black): Christian Hubicki, Emily Flippen, Tiffany Ervin, Genevieve Mushaluk, Charlie Davis, S49 #2, Ozzy Lusth, Cirie Fields, Mike White, Dee Valladares, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Aubry Bracco, S49 #1
Pre-Merge Elimination Recap
1. Jonathan Young (Day 2)
2. Q Burdette (Day 3)
3. Stephenie LaGrossa Kendrick (Day 4)
4. Rick Devens (Day 5)
5. Chrissy Hofbeck (Day 6)
6. Angelina Keeley (Day 7)
7. Coach Wade (Day 8)
8. Colby Donaldson (Day 9)
9. Kamilla Karthigesu (Day 10)
10. Kyle Fraser (Day 11)
11. Joe Hunter (Day 12)
With each vote, the game gets tighter and tighter, and our players are more on edge than ever. Now with the game officially in the individual portion, who will come forward as the challenge threat of the season? Who will make the jury? And will Christian reveal to anyone he now has an active immunity idol?
Stay tuned to find out what happens post-merge in AI Survivor 50!