I’ll be honest the past six months I have had some nights, when I’m lying awake in bed, I start to wonder if all this AI hype is just another version of the Metaverse or NFTs. Just 4 years ago people were buying virtual land or overpriced digital art, convinced that the future of the internet lay in these strange new realms? I worry at times that I’m hearing echoes of that same rush with AI. While I do think parts of this AI focus has some elements of hype, I do feel likeit’s different this time. I do wonder if we will look back in five years and say, “Remember when everyone was talking about AI like it was going to save the world? or destroy it?” It’s a thought that keeps me up, but I know deep down, this time, it’s different. The potential is there, even if the roadmap is unclear.
The Early Days of the Internet: A Cautionary Tale
In a way, I’m reminded of the early days of the internet. It was the 90s, and everyone was talking about this new, magical thing called “the World Wide Web.” But here’s the thing: back then, the internet wasn’t perfect, and it didn’t change everything overnight, like we thought it would. Instead, it was a bumpy road of hype, skepticism, and financial crashes. The dot-com bubble burst in the early 2000s, and many believed the internet was just a fad that would never make it.
I distinctly remember hearing people say, “The internet will never be mainstream. Who needs a website? This is just a gimmick.” Yet here we are, 30 years later, and the internet is more than just part of daily life — it’s the backbone of the global economy, communication, and entertainment. The dot-com bubble? It was just the growing pains of something far bigger, far more transformative than anyone could have imagined at the time.
The Evolution of AI: It’s Not What We Expect, But It’s Real
Fast forward to today, and we’re seeing the same rush around AI. Just like the internet, there’s a lot of hype and a lot of uncertainty about what AI will truly mean for us. People are claiming it will change everything — that we’re on the verge of some massive, world-altering shift. And while that may be true, I’ve learned from history that the initial excitement around any technology rarely matches the reality.
Sure, AI is real, and it will change things. But the path it takes will likely be much slower and more iterative than we anticipate. Just like the internet didn’t change everything overnight, AI won’t be the magical solution we’re being promised. It’s going to take time to develop, refine, and figure out how to use it in the best possible ways.
Here’s what I’ve learned from watching the internet evolve: the initial concept of any new technology is rarely the same as what it becomes. The promise of the internet was supposed to be a world-changing revolution. And while it certainly has transformed many aspects of our lives, it didn’t do so in the way we imagined. Instead, it started as a tool, grew into something more powerful, and created entirely new industries in the process. It didn’t destroy jobs, but it did reshape them, and in some cases, it created many more opportunities than anyone expected.
Will AI Follow the Same Path?
AI is on the same trajectory. The fear that AI will replace jobs is real, but it’s not the full picture. Just like the internet, AI will automate some tasks, but it will also create many new ones. Take the rise of e-commerce, for example. In the early days, people feared that it would destroy retail jobs. And sure, some positions in traditional brick-and-mortar stores disappeared. But e-commerce created entirely new roles in marketing, logistics, customer service, and technology that didn’t exist before. In the same way, AI is likely to automate repetitive tasks, freeing up human workers to focus on higher-level work, and creating new kinds of jobs in the process.
The Fear of Missing Out Is Real, But So Is the Opportunity
So, yeah, the fear of missing out on AI is real. It’s easy to get caught up in the FOMO, especially when everyone around you seems to be jumping on the latest AI bandwagon. But here’s the thing: just like with the internet, the future of AI won’t be shaped by those who rush to adopt the latest fad without fully understanding it. It will be shaped by those who take a step back, examine their options, and figure out how to integrate these tools in ways that add real value.
AI is not some magical, instant solution — it’s a tool, just like the internet was in the 90s. And just like the internet, it will evolve, and its true potential will take time to unfold. But in the end, those who approach AI with patience, caution, and a clear strategy will be the ones who reap the rewards.
Here at Customer Experience Platforms we help companies connect with their customers by building customer feedback communities. If you would like to find out more please contact us here!
Commentaires