Everywhere you look online, you will find websites, services, and apps that advertise that their use of AI makes them the best option by providing various tools that help improve user experience and enhance productivity. I don’t know what you might be thinking, but its constant presence has become exhausting. The rapid developments in AI have raised questions about whether we have already reached the limits of its capabilities.
So, while AI is certainly here to stay in our daily lives, there are several signs that we’ve already reached peak AI hype. Check out some common AI myths that are simply not true.
1. Limited interest from the general public
While AI has gotten a lot of attention in tech circles, it’s important to remember that we live in a bubble in our niche groups. Just because we find something cool and game-changing doesn’t mean that regular people will find it too. In my opinion, AI is one topic that falls into that category.
When I talk to regular people about AI, I often find that they know about ChatGPT but not much else. Most of the time, the people who are really interested in the features of AI have a pre-existing interest in the technology. This is exactly the same reason I don’t think Mastodon will replace X (Twitter): it doesn’t have mass appeal.
In addition to disinterest, many people remain skeptical of AI. For example, according to research by the Center for Pew In November 2023, 52% of U.S. respondents said they were more concerned than excited about AI (up from 37% in 2021). Furthermore, only 10% said they were more excited than worried (down from 18% in 2021).
2. Most AI tools are not good.
I’ve gotten a lot of messages from people telling me to try their AI tools over the past couple of years. And I’ll be completely honest with you now: the vast majority of these messages end up in my trash folder. There are some amazing AI tools out there (ChatGPT and Grammarly, for example), but the simple truth is that most AI tools aren’t very good and are a waste of time.
A lot of the new AI tools I’ve seen don’t offer anything different from what’s already out there. I think this is for several reasons. First, many AI tools since 2022 have been rushed to market. I can understand that approach, and I believe in having a minimum viable product. But if it doesn’t work, it honestly doesn’t work — no matter how many buzzwords you throw at your product page.
Many AI tools have also been neglected due to updates, which has led to their natural degradation. Again, I repeat my first rule of thumb: make something good that people want, not just what’s trendy.
3. Many AI integrations are effective tricks.
In addition to the many new AI apps and tools that aren’t very good, many established brands have also been rushing to build AI-powered features. Again, I totally understand this from a business perspective, but I don’t see how adding a bunch of tools at random improves your product (and I suspect a lot of other people feel the same way right now).
I’ve written a comprehensive article about how every piece of creative toolkit now has AI, but few actually need it. However, other industries have fallen into the same trap. While automation and some corrective tools are great additions, I question the necessity of sky-scraping features. They’re good for fun, I guess, but they’re not absolutely necessary.
The last thing anyone wants is awkward interfaces with lots of stuff that doesn’t mean anything, and I think a lot of companies will realize that. Once the AI hype dies down a bit, I think a lot of companies will start to be more selective about what they add.
4. “AI-powered” doesn’t carry the same weight it once did.
For most of 2023 and the first part of 2024, I’ve seen a lot of companies throw “AI-powered” around wherever they can, but I don’t think the term carries the same weight it once did.
The reason is simple. Most people don’t care how the product they’re using works. They care that it does what it promises to do. Of course, sometimes AI will be part of that equation (say, summarizing meeting notes), but sometimes it won’t.
I would definitely argue that the term has more weight in B2B settings, but not so much when talking about consumers. Some people may be concerned about too much AI in video games and other things they use. Check out When was AI first discovered? History of various AI-related technologies.
5. People are suffering from AI fatigue.
It’s natural that people are becoming more interested in AI, but I think many are also tired of hearing about it. Since late 2022, much of the tech news that has become mainstream has been about AI. Over time, this will naturally tire some people out — even if they have an interest in technology.
anyone else have AI fatigue?
— NetworkChuck (@NetworkChuck) March 23, 2023
People just feel overwhelmed by the amount of information they are exposed to on a daily basis. Our brains weren’t meant to process everything that’s going on in the world, and even enough news on one topic can be overwhelming.
hey sorry I missed your text, I am processing a non-stop 24/7 onslaught of information with a brain designed to eat berries in a cave
— Janel Comeau (@VeryBadLlama) September 27, 2023
Just as people have gotten tired of hearing about other big topics in the past, I think we’ll also see a lot of people who are tired of hearing about AI all the time. Certainly a lot of people are tired of seeing AI artwork, to say the least. All of this is a clear sign that we’ve passed peak AI (at least in terms of hype).
6. People realize that AI is a tool, not a replacement.
When the AI craze started, everyone talked about how these tools were a one-stop solution to replace anything and everything. But as time progressed, more people realized that using AI effectively is much harder than it seems.
Generative AI is a very good example of this. It’s harder to generate than you might think, and even generating images using AI can be a headache. Generating AI is a skill in itself, and not many people will be willing to put in the time to master it.
I also think you need to have some skill in what you’re doing before you integrate AI. For example, I’ve talked to friends in the music industry who can tell very quickly when a song is AI-generated. Likewise, as a photographer, I know when a photo has been taken using AI. You should use AI to complement what you’re already doing if you want to get the most out of it, rather than trying to replace your tasks entirely.
7. There are no new real AI models.
Another sign that we’ve reached peak AI is the lack of new AI models. I’m not talking about Gemini and GPT-5; I’m talking about other potential alternatives.
Many of the biggest tech companies started developing their own AI models after ChatGPT launched. Since then, things have been quieter. Apple Intelligence is perhaps one exception. However, the fact that things are quieter suggests that we may have passed peak AI.
AI is a great technology when used correctly, but the initial hype from late 2022 onwards looks like it’s on a downward trajectory. Many people are experiencing AI fatigue, and if they aren’t already, you can expect to be in the future. What’s more, most AI tools aren’t good enough to make an impact. While AI will always be present in our lives, we’ll start to look at it more sensibly now that its novelty has worn off. Check out AI like ChatGPT and Bard in financial advice: Is it reliable?
Get IPTV Free Trial Now