Improving communication with AI

When a particular piece of technology is in a stage of hype—and few technologies have been as hyped as AI—futurist Amy Webb explains that it hasn't yet reached mainstream adoption.

- FRANCIS J. KONG

Once it becomes mainstream, the hype fades, and the technology quietly becomes part of everyday life. Consider the pre-COVID era, when "digital transformation" was the day's buzzword. Invitations for me to speak at leadership seminars often required a focus on digital transformation, as everyone speculated about its potential. Now, nearly no one mentions it—not because it vanished, but because COVID-19 accelerated digital adoption so rapidly that transformation became a standard practice, not a visionary concept.

Similarly, when Sam Altman introduced ChatGPT on Nov. 30, 2022, it quickly gained widespread attention due to its impressive conversational abilities and ease of use. The platform attracted over a million users within days, fueling a significant wave of interest and discussion around AI. (A topic discussed in this column shortly after.) The hype around AI reached a fever pitch, with dystopian fears of "thinking computers" threatening humanity. The Terminator's image resurfaced in popular imagination, casting AI as a potentially dangerous force. However, now the hype is quieting, replaced by a more pragmatic view of AI as companies and organizations adopt and incorporate it into everyday operations. The shift signals a maturing perspective on AI's role and possibilities in business and society.