Navigating the AI Landscape: How to Distinguish Genuine Intelligence from Marketing Hype in the Tech Revolution – Utah News Dispatch

In his Stanford University classes, Jehangir Amjad often asks his students a thought-provoking question: Was the 1969 moon landing influenced by artificial intelligence?

He admits it sounds almost like science fiction, but diving into AI history sheds light on the topic. “I would argue that many algorithms used during the moon landing are early forms of what we identify as AI today,” said Amjad, a tech executive and computer science lecturer. “These algorithms are the building blocks of advanced AI we see now.”

Amjad raises this question to highlight the challenge of defining “artificial intelligence.” As the technology evolves quickly, this definition becomes muddled.

“What is AI?” is a tough question, according to Amjad.

This broad definition complicates matters for consumers and tech companies, making it hard to distinguish between genuine AI and products that merely claim to be AI-enhanced.

Swapnil Shinde, CEO of AI bookkeeping software Zeni, has observed this trend. Lately, many startups are branding themselves as “AI-powered.” However, Shinde notes that some merely dabble in AI, using it in a limited way in their services.

“It’s easy to tell after some discussions if a startup is just dressing up a basic product with AI buzzwords,” he said. “If that’s the case, they likely won’t last, since they’re not addressing a significant problem.”

The rush to build AI

Theresa Fesinstine has sensed a rush among companies to adopt AI for competitive advantage since early 2023. She launched her AI education company, peoplepower.ai, to help organizations understand AI and its applications.

“A little education about AI can guide both businesses and employees through this rapidly evolving tech landscape,” said Fesinstine from Norwalk, Connecticut.

In their eagerness to showcase cutting-edge tools, some companies may mislabel basic automation features as innovative AI offerings, risking misunderstandings about the real capabilities of their products. The term “generative AI” often gets thrown around, which refers to advanced technologies using complex algorithms.

Fesinstine warns about the pressure on firms to keep up with AI advancements. This could lead them to purchase AI tools without a clear strategy for employee training and proper implementation.

“It’s predatory,” she said. Companies often fear being left behind in the AI race.

Some tech experts argue that the vagueness of what AI truly is allows various products to be branded as AI. For instance, predictive analytics might be considered “borderline” AI, according to Ed Watal, founder of Intellibus, a strategy consultancy.

True AI uses algorithms to process and analyze data, making decisions based on human prompts. These systems improve over time through feedback and learning, but there’s still debate about what qualifies strictly as AI.

‘AI washing’

While numerous companies tout their AI capabilities, many technologists caution against over-promising AI’s potential. Watal gave the example of a company claiming its AI could create a fully functioning website. While it may generate code, it cannot handle the host and run the site without additional support.

“Sending an email, for instance, requires a mail server,” Watal explained. “You could ask an AI tool to code it, but you still need to manage it. It’s not as simple as pressing a button.”

Amjad, also head of AI Platform at Ikigai, believes that companies sometimes exaggerate AI’s ability to execute creative tasks.

While AI excels at recognizing patterns and sorting data, original creativity remains a human strength, according to Amjad. “AI often recycles existing ideas rather than creating something new,” he said. “We should be skeptical of any claims suggesting AI is innovative.”

This isn’t the first time technology has sparked a marketing frenzy. Take “Web3,” a concept about decentralized internet using blockchain, which gained quick popularity but didn’t fully transform the web as expected.

“The cloud” is another example. This concept has existed for years, but Apple’s introduction of the Elastic Compute Cloud in 2006 sparked a wave of competition among tech companies to claim a spot in the cloud space.

Only time will reveal whether we are overusing or accurately applying the term artificial intelligence, Amjad noted. “The hype and promise surrounding AI are genuine,” he said. “Yet we may be exaggerating in certain areas.”

Amjad believes interest in AI will continue to grow, and he’s confident that Ikigai’s technology will hold up amidst the hype.

“AI has captured attention, and that’s exciting. Still, it builds on a long history, and managing expectations is crucial. AI has gone through hype cycles before, and likely will again,” Amjad said.