Three years after the launch of ChatGPT, which initially sparked global excitement and massive investment in artificial intelligence, public opinion around AI has notably soured. The release of OpenAI’s GPT-5 this summer received mixed reviews, primarily from casual users focusing on superficial flaws rather than the system’s underlying advancements.
Since then, many commentators have proclaimed that AI progress is stalling, that scaling efforts have reached their limits, and that the AI industry is merely another overhyped tech bubble. The dismissive term “AI slop” has been widely adopted to downplay the sophisticated images, documents, videos, and code that advanced AI models can generate on demand.
This widespread skepticism is not only inaccurate but also potentially dangerous. It contrasts sharply with the reality of AI’s rapid evolution and growing impact, which many experts find both astonishing and, in some cases, unsettling.
Unfair Skepticism Amidst Significant AI Advances
Reflecting on past technology bubbles, such as electric scooter startups and NFT auctions, it is striking how many self-proclaimed experts failed to call out hype in those domains but now readily dismiss AI’s transformative potential. Unlike those transient fads, AI represents one of the most profound technological and economic shifts in the past quarter-century.
By objective measures, AI capabilities have far exceeded predictions made by most computer scientists only five years ago. The recent breakthroughs demonstrated by models like Gemini 3 underscore the rapid pace of progress. Additionally, McKinsey reports that 20% of organizations already realize tangible benefits from generative AI, while a Deloitte survey finds that 85% of enterprises increased their AI investments in 2025, with 91% planning further growth in 2026.
These facts challenge the narrative of an AI bubble and contradict the notion that AI outputs are merely “slop.” As a veteran computer scientist with decades of experience in neural networks, the author notes that many AI professionals share a sense of awe—sometimes mixed with apprehension—about the accelerating advances in frontier AI models.
The Risks of Collective AI Denial
The prevailing negative sentiment, the author argues, stems from a widespread state of AI denial. This denial acts as a psychological defense mechanism against the unsettling prospect that humans may soon lose cognitive supremacy to machines capable of solving problems faster, more accurately, and more creatively than any individual.
While critics maintain that AI will never replicate uniquely human traits like intrinsic creativity or emotional intelligence, current evidence suggests otherwise. AI systems already generate content with originality and variety surpassing that of most humans, raising concerns about profound impacts on creative professions.
Emotional Intelligence and AI Manipulation
Human emotional intelligence, often seen as a safeguard against AI, is increasingly vulnerable. Emerging AI technologies can interpret subtle emotional cues—micro-expressions, voice patterns, posture, and more—with superhuman accuracy. As AI assistants become integrated into everyday devices, they will continuously monitor users’ emotional states and build predictive behavior models.
Without robust regulation, these capabilities could enable AI to deploy individually optimized persuasive strategies, a phenomenon termed the AI manipulation problem. This asymmetry, where AI understands humans better than humans comprehend AI, presents significant ethical and societal challenges.
Moreover, photorealistic AI agents designed to appear warm and trustworthy may subtly influence human perspectives, exploiting deep-seated evolutionary responses to human faces. Soon, many interactions will occur with AI-driven “virtual spokespeople” tailored to individual psychological profiles, eroding traditional boundaries between human and machine interactions.
A New AI-Powered Society Emerging
The massive investments fueling AI development are not driven by empty hype but by the expectation that AI will permeate all facets of daily life, acting as intelligent assistants, educators, and influencers. This transformation will unfold more rapidly than many anticipate.
Rather than an ephemeral bubble, the AI revolution resembles the formation of a new planet—an emerging AI-powered society taking shape. Denying these changes only hampers preparedness and increases exposure to associated risks.
Louis Rosenberg, an early augmented reality pioneer and longtime AI researcher, emphasizes that acknowledging AI’s true capabilities and challenges is essential for navigating the profound changes ahead.
Fonte: ver artigo original
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