Is AI another passing fad?

Is #AI just another passing fad? 🤔

In 1995, Clifford Stoll wrote the now-infamous article “Hype Alert: Why Cyberspace Isn’t, and Will Never Be, Nirvana” in Newsweek. At the time, he was convinced the Internet would fail. His predictions included:
1️⃣ E-commerce Will Fail 🛒: People will always prefer touching and feeling products in physical stores.
2️⃣ Online Education Is Ineffective 🎓: Virtual classrooms can’t match the engagement of in-person teaching.
3️⃣ Digital Media Won’t Replace Print 📰: Reading on screens is inconvenient and won’t replace newspapers.
4️⃣ The Internet Won’t Build Real Communities 🌐: Online interactions are superficial and disconnected.
5️⃣ The Internet Is a Passing Trend 📉: Cyberspace won’t revolutionize industries or daily life.

Today, these predictions sound laughable. The Internet did transform our world.
Fast forward to 2024, I see a similar skepticism surrounding #AI. Many dismiss Artificial Intelligence as another fad. But history tells us that emerging technologies often seem overhyped—until they become indispensable.

Let’s look at how AI will shape our near future (1-2 years):
🔹 Retail and E-commerce 🛍️
Generative AI will contribute $400B-$660B annually to retail and consumer goods (McKinsey).
Personalized AI-driven recommendations can boost sales by up to 20%.
🔹 Education 📚
AI will deliver personalized learning experiences, enhancing engagement and outcomes.
Automating admin tasks will reduce teacher workloads by 30%, allowing more focus on students.
🔹 Creative Industries 🎨
AI will accelerate content creation by up to 50%, turning ideas into reality faster.
Creative process costs will decrease by 20-30% with AI-driven tools.
🔹 Healthcare 🏥
AI-assisted diagnostics will improve accuracy by 15-20%, leading to better patient care.
Generative AI will cut healthcare operational costs by up to 25%.
🔹 Business Operations 💻
AI will boost employee productivity by 10-15%, streamlining workflows and processes.
Companies adopting AI have already reported revenue increases of up to 16%.

These aren’t just predictions—they’re signals of a future that’s already unfolding.
So, is AI a fad? You’re free to think so, but history tends to repeat itself. Don’t be the next Blockbuster.