7 Signs We're Past Peak AI

Wherever you look online, there are websites, services, and apps that claim that using AI makes it the best option. 

1. Limited public interest

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While AI has gotten a lot of attention in the tech world, it's important to remember that we live in a community. Just because we find something interesting and game-changing doesn't mean that others will find it the same. AI is one of the topics that falls into this category.

When you talk to the average person about AI, they may know about ChatGPT but not much else. People who are really interested in AI features have had a prior interest in the technology.

In addition to being unconcerned, many people remain skeptical about AI. For example, according to a November 2023 Pew study, 52% of U.S. respondents said they were more worried 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 bad

There are some great AI tools out there (for example, ChatGPT and Grammarly), but the simple truth is that most AI tools aren't very good.

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A large number of new AI tools do not offer anything different from existing ones for a number of reasons. First, many of the AI ​​tools released since 2022 were rushed to market. Many AI tools have also been skipped over for updates, which has led to them getting worse over time.

3. Many AI integrations are really just gimmicks

In addition to some new AI apps and programs that aren't really that good, many established brands are rushing to create AI-powered features. Again, this is completely understandable from a business perspective, but adding more tools doesn't improve the product.

Other industries have fallen into the same trap. While automation and some correction tools are great additions, the need for sky replacement features is really high. They may be nice for entertainment purposes, but they are completely unnecessary. Once the AI ​​craze dies down a bit, many companies will start to be more selective about what they add.

4. 'Powered by AI' doesn't mean the same thing anymore

For much of 2023 and early 2024, many businesses used the phrase 'AI-powered' wherever possible. However, the term no longer holds the same meaning as it once did.

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The reason is simple. Most people don't care what powers the product they're using. They care about whether it does the job it promises. Of course, AI will sometimes be part of the equation (for example, summarizing meeting minutes), but sometimes it won't.

Some people may even worry about AI interfering too much in video games and other things they use.

5. People are tired of AI

It's one thing to have a lot of interest in AI, but it's also another to have a lot of fatigue from hearing about it. Since late 2022, a lot of the tech news that's been popular has been about AI. Over time, that's naturally going to make some people tired, even if they're interested in the technology.

People are simply exhausted by the amount of information they are exposed to on a daily basis. Our brains cannot process everything that is happening in the world, and too much news on one topic can be exhausting.

Just like people have gotten tired of hearing about other big topics in the past, we will also see many more people getting tired of hearing about AI. All of this is a pretty clear sign that we are past peak AI.

6. People are realizing that AI is a tool, not a replacement

When the AI ​​craze first started, everyone talked about how these tools were a one-stop solution to replace everything. But over time, more and more people are realizing that using AI effectively is much harder than it seems.

Generative AI is a great example of this. Prompting is harder than you think, and even generating images with AI can be a headache. AI prompting is a niche skill, and many people won't want to spend the time to perfect it.

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You should really have some skill in what you are doing before incorporating AI. You should use AI to complement what you are doing if you want to get the most out of it, rather than trying to replace it entirely.

7. There is no truly new AI model

Another sign that we're past peak AI is the lack of new AI models. Many of the biggest tech companies started developing their AI models around the launch of ChatGPT. However, things have been much quieter since then. Apple Intelligence is perhaps the exception. But the reality is that we may be past peak AI.

AI is a great tool when used properly, but the hype from late 2022 onwards seems to be winding down. Many people are experiencing AI fatigue. Furthermore, most AI tools are simply not good enough to make a difference. While AI will remain a presence in our lives, we will start to look at it more rationally as the novelty of AI wears off.

Samuel Daniel

Update 05 September 2024