Is AI Underhyped?

In the last two years, the tech industry has seen an AI boom. Companies are either exploring AI or actively using it to enhance their products and services. But in the long run, the real differentiator won’t be AI itself. Instead, success will come from how a person, company, product, or government leverages AI to support their broader strategy. Simply having an "AI strategy" won’t be enough.

Think of AI like electricity—one of the greatest inventions, available in most parts of the world. But its availability isn’t what sets people or companies apart; it’s how they use it. AI will soon become as common as electricity, woven into the fabric of our daily lives, making it less of a competitive edge and more of a necessity.

Not adopting AI will be like refusing to use electricity or other daily conveniences we now take for granted. The time to adapt to AI is now—not tomorrow. We must figure out which parts of our daily work can be automated by AI, freeing us up to focus on higher-level tasks. It’s crucial to imagine a future where AI is fully integrated into our lives, serving as a force multiplier rather than something to compete against.

If you want to stay ahead in this AI age, the key question is: What can AI do for us?—instead of worrying about what AI might do to us.

So, no, AI is not overhyped. But if you don’t take control of how AI can help you, it may end up controlling you.