Instead we got AI slop, chatbot psychosis, and tools that instantly inspire you to write better email newsletters. Maybe we got what we deserved. Or perhaps we need to reevaluate what AI is.
This reality is at the heart of a new series of stories published today, called promotional improvementsWe acknowledge that AI is still the hottest ticket in town, but now is the time to reset our expectations,
As my colleague Will Douglas Haven says in the package’s introductory essay, “You can’t help but wonder: When the wow factor is gone, what’s left? How will we look at this technology one or five years from now? Will we think it was worth the huge costs, both financial and environmental?”
Elsewhere in the package, James O’Donnell looks at the ultimate AI hype man, Sam Altman, through his own words. And Alex Heath explains the AI ​​bubble, what it means and what we should be paying attention to.
Michelle Kim analyzes one of the biggest claims in the AI ​​hype cycle: that AI will eliminate the need for certain categories of jobs altogether. If ChatGPT can pass the bar, surely that means it will replace lawyers? Well, not now, and probably never.
Similarly, Ad Gent tackles the big question surrounding AI coding. Is it as good as it sounds? Turns out the jury is still out. And elsewhere David Rotman looks at the real-world work that needs to be done before AI materials discovery has a successful chatty GPT moment.
