The AI Hype Cycle Is Annoying, But Not Empty

The hype is irritating.

Every product is “AI-powered.” Every vendor claims transformation. Every pitch deck uses the same language: agents, copilots, automation, intelligence, productivity.

It is easy to become cynical.

But dismissing the whole thing would be lazy.

Under the marketing noise, real change is happening. Developers are using AI to move faster. Support teams are testing AI triage. Businesses are summarising documents, classifying emails, generating reports, and searching internal knowledge in new ways.

The hype is inflated. The usefulness is real.

That makes this phase difficult. We need skepticism without becoming blind. We need optimism without becoming gullible.

A practical rule: ignore the label and inspect the workflow.

Does the AI reduce actual work?

Does it improve decision quality?

Can the result be checked?

Does it protect sensitive information?

Does it fail safely?

If yes, it may be useful. If not, it is probably theatre.