When AI emerged, it created a massive wave — and predictions followed that entire professions would soon become meaningless. The rise of advanced models like Claude, amplified by YouTube creators eager to ride the moment, pushed the market into territory we hadn't seen before. Are we standing at the edge of something genuinely revolutionary, or staring down a bubble waiting to burst?
To understand where we are, it helps to remember where we've been
In the 1990s, as the internet spread, any company that added ".com" to its name watched its stock price climb irrationally. Instead of building real value or generating revenue, these companies ran aggressive advertising and PR campaigns. When the reality of what the internet actually was finally landed, it became clear that most of these companies had simply been riding a wave — extracting money from investors without ever developing a sustainable business model. Trust collapsed. The NASDAQ crashed. Billions evaporated. People who expected a shortcut to wealth lost everything. Giants of the era — Pets.com, Webvan, WorldCom — disappeared into history. But the companies with real foundations, Amazon, eBay, and Microsoft, survived and became the technology giants of today.
I don't believe AI is a scam or a hollow bubble. But inflated expectations are creating serious confusion — and that confusion has consequences. Some business owners are using this uncertainty to their advantage: overstating AI's power to pressure employees, create fear, and push them toward accepting lower wages.
The pattern of controlled scarcity
There is also a pattern worth noticing. In 2019, OpenAI announced it would not release its full technology to the public — citing concerns about misuse and dangerous applications. In 2026, Anthropic is making the same announcement about its most capable models. Seven years apart, two different companies, the same reasoning. Whether this reflects genuine safety concerns or something more strategic is a question worth sitting with.
The shifting economics
Meanwhile, the economics are shifting in ways that deserve attention. Anthropic, which has attracted some of the biggest investments in the space, has been quietly tightening token limits. After burning millions on aggressive advertising and accessible pricing, near-unlimited usage now requires a significant monthly commitment — closer to $200. The promise that AI would integrate everywhere and make everything more affordable looks different from this angle.
Running your own large language model is technically an alternative — but at that point, you also need serious hardware to run it on.
Finding the equilibrium
AI will find its equilibrium. We'll eventually be able to examine it with realistic eyes rather than inflated expectations or irrational fear. That correction needs to come soon — because right now, millions of people are navigating genuine psychological uncertainty created by a narrative that benefits the people selling it more than the people living inside it.
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