How I Look at AI. Without the Hype.

Disclaimer at the beginning. 

This article is not going to be educational, it's more of an essay about AI from my perspective. It was written by a non-native English speaker who let AI correct obvious typos and grammatical errors — make of that what you will.

My goal is to formulate my thoughts about AI, share my view on the topic, and maybe start an interesting discussion.

Yes, I know, the AI topic is everywhere. Every day there is a new update, breakthrough, etc. Statements about how it is changing everything, how much is done in no time, how the world is not going to be the same… This piece is not here to add to that noise. I’d like to avoid jumping on the hype train here. Of course, I will tackle some of these hypes - but in a more “multiview” way. Not denial, not scepticism, no sensation.

In recent days, weeks, months I heard and read a lot of comparisons and statements regarding AI.

One stuck in my head: “It’s the new internet”.

(I’ll omit the rest: “new social media”, “new industrial revolution”, etc.)

Sure thing, I was too young to experience the beginnings and growth of the internet as a professional. That said, I still think that common knowledge about the internet itself, pre-social media experience and some common sense give solid enough basics for amateur philosophy :)

Difference

I thought about it a lot. And something just does not click in this comparison.

The Internet created a new place.

It gave us somewhere to digitise, or simply simplify and unify, our basic routines: storing information, sharing information; reading news, creating new businesses, promoting our businesses, communicating with people across the world, transferring money, doing business… you name it, the Internet is the place giving you the options. That one place in your computer or phone. Yes, it changed the world.

AI is not a new place. AI shortened distances.

It’s quicker to do research - no need to go to the library and wade through stacks of books, nor spend hours on Google - it’s way quicker with the research mode of an AI model. The virtual distance to the finish line of your research is closer than ever.

It’s way quicker to develop tools and apps. No need to go to software architects and developers to get a functional prototype. If you still need professional help, engineers themselves can make their work far more effective. The distance to the final product is definitely shorter.

Same with graphics, video, web, back-office routines, operations… Yes, it is changing the world - parts of it.

Where I see the biggest difference, and a bit of a bubble effect (so far), is the fact that AI hasn’t brought anything genuinely “new” yet. (I have to add: yet.)

Similarity

One thing that is definitely the same, or at least I see it this way, is making things accessible. The Internet and AI have this in common. With the internet, anyone can open a new shop in minutes and offer their own goods or services. It made that accessible. With AI, everyone can create a new shop, even build products quickly - it’s making things even more accessible.

Outside view

Every time I find myself on the hype train of my industry, I try to look outside.

Let’s take an independent auto mechanic.

What is the current leverage of AI for this person?

Creating a new website. A reservation system. Automatic parts ordering based on stock. A knowledge hub for customers on how to maintain their car. Estimates and planning based on past results. Alerts and news collecting for trends and know-how. All executed autonomously, with just the outcomes landing on the mechanic’s desk. S

ure. Quick and easy; better margins, more effective operations, everything even more accessible. That's a real improvement. But the job itself? Hmm… I can’t see the “new”. Maybe with autonomous robots… but let’s not go there (for now).

Unknown Unknowns

AI is massively changing the industries I’m connected to (IT, marketing, ecommerce, etc.). I see it.

There are a lot of repetitive tasks, a lot of accumulated knowledge, a huge number of martech tools and, maybe, even too many people involved. AI has already impacted this area massively. There is plenty of space for making things more effective. So yes, you have to educate yourself, you have to monitor it. It’s not worth neglecting it or acting like it’s just a buzz or a bubble.

We still need more experience with AI.

We need to see where the pricing will go (or in other words, the demand on resources), what happens with responsibility and ownership, and the tightly connected topics of security, regulation, and development itself.

There are still plenty of things to be clarified or developed, so it is almost impossible to predict the future impact.

And let’s not forget about people.

I mean people as consumers. Not “creators”. To me, this is an even bigger black box and harder to estimate. So far, some support features are more effective, but for example in my case, I dropped social media because it was getting way too artificial. The fact that something is easier and quicker to create doesn’t mean it’s the way to go. But whatever, the future will tell.

Hype?

So, the hype is here. Things are changing. My only wish is: let’s be open-minded and not retreat into “this is the only possible future”, “we are doomed”, or similar trenches. No matter whether it will impact us like the internet, social media, or the industrial revolution...right now, it’s impossible to say.

That connects to one small observation about the current moment. I recently heard a podcast discussion about cults (Trevor Noah’s What Now? with guest Dr. Steven Hassan) where it was mentioned something like: “if no other view is allowed, it’s probably a cult”. Very similar thoughts on open-mindedness appear in Adam Grant’s Think Again.

Conclusion

So, my current (Q1/2026) conclusion: it’s not as big as the internet , but it is definitely big. And to give you one more philosophical angle:

Is the impact on the daily life of an ordinary person as big as the internet? I don’t think so.

Can it have a bigger impact on humanity than the internet? I think so

Some things are simply becoming way too easy to access. For everyone. I mean, everyone.