The Problem with Hype

The main problem with hype is that it keeps us from appreciating what we already have. It’s always about the next big thing. Something revolutionary just over the horizon. But while we’re busy chasing the future, we overlook the real progress happening right under our noses.

Hype trains don’t just distract us from appreciating what we have—they derail entire industries. Let’s take a nostalgia ride through history’s greatest hype hits:

• Dotcom Bubble: In the late ’90s, we hyped up cool domain names and flooded the market with websites that promised to change the world. Many of them were little more than digital placeholders, and when the bubble burst, it left behind a trail of broken dreams and useless URLs. (RIP, Pets.com sock puppet.)

• Crypto Mania: Web3 was supposed to decentralize the internet. Instead, it decentralized people’s life savings into the pockets of crypto influencers named “MoonKing420.” Turns out, “trustless” systems still require trusting strangers on Reddit. We got a Wild West of scams, rug pulls, and NFTs of apes in hats. The revolution was overhyped, and the fallout left many disillusioned.

• AGI Obsession: Today, we’re burning billions to create Artificial General Intelligence—a machine that can “think like a human.” But so far, what we’ve gotten are impressive text generators, image creators, and tools that can mimic creativity, not true AGI. And yet, because these tools don’t live up to the sci-fi fantasy, they’re often dismissed as “not good enough.”

The Unsung Heroes Hype Left Behind

While we’re busy chasing sci-fi fantasies, practical AI tools are out here doing the real work—like the quiet coworker who fixes the printer while everyone else argues about blockchain. For example:

1. Spellcheck: It’s been around for decades, working tirelessly in the background to save us from embarrassing typos. (pubic meeting, anyone?) It’s not glamorous, but it’s a lifesaver for anyone who writes anything—whether it’s an email, a report, or a novel.

2. Video Editing AI: They allow you to edit footage by simply typing commands, like “remove that awkward pause” or “add a transition here.” What used to require hours of manual labor can now be done in minutes.

3. Spam Filters: Your inbox’s bouncer, tirelessly fighting off “Nigerian princes” and “hot singles in your area.” Your email’s unsung hero. It’s not just blocking obvious scams; it’s learning what you care about and keeping your inbox clean.

These aren’t sexy. They won’t write your novel, but they will fix the typo in “Chapter 1: Protaganist Discovers AGI.” And isn’t that… kind of revolutionary?

AGI: The Goalpost Made of Vibes

One of the most frustrating things about the AGI hype is how the goalposts keep shifting. What was once considered groundbreaking. AI beating humans at chess or Go is now dismissed as “narrow” or “not real intelligence.” Today, if an AI can’t write a novel, compose a symphony, and debate philosophy while brewing your morning coffee, it’s labeled a disappointment.

It’s as if we’ve forgotten how far we’ve come. The AI we have today would have been considered science fiction just a few decades ago. My phone can identify dog breeds, translate languages in real time, and even suggest the best route to avoid traffic. That’s incredible! But because it’s not AGI, we shrug and say, “Meh, not impressive enough.”

Hype’s Greatest Crime: It Makes Us Boring

Hype doesn’t just distract us. It actively obscures the progress we’re making. By fixating on the distant future, we fail to appreciate the tools and technologies that are already transforming our lives. We dismiss them as “not revolutionary enough” because they don’t live up to the hype.

But maybe that’s the wrong way to look at it. Maybe AGI isn’t the end goal, maybe it’s the friends we made along the way; or at least, the ones who fixed our typos. The tools we’ve built, the problems we’ve solved, and the incremental improvements that add up to something truly meaningful.

So let’s retire the hype and start celebrating the progress we’ve already made. After all, the future isn’t built in one giant leap. it’s built step by step, tool by tool, and yes, even spellcheck by spellcheck.

The next time someone dismisses AI as “just a tool,” remind them that the wheel was “just a rock” until it wasn’t. Progress doesn’t have to be flashy to be revolutionary.

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