Fake AI Vs. Real AI

A year ago, I wrote an article on the AI industry, and the claims of companies “AI Washing” and trying to understand what is real and what is not.? Well In the past 12 months, The landscape has seen an explosion of new large language models (LLMs) and competitors challenging OpenAI's dominance. ?This surge in AI development is exciting, but it also comes with a downside: as the rise of imposters and companies falsely claiming to incorporate AI into their products continues to grow. ?These companies, often with outdated technology, have resorted to misleading marketing strategies, touting their products as "AI-powered" when, in reality, there is little to no AI involved.

Established companies, desperate to keep pace with the AI revolution, have begun rebranding their products with the AI label, despite having made minimal or no actual advancements. ?The situation has become so absurd that even a toothbrush company recently claimed their product was enhanced by AI. This is a clear sign that the AI label has become more of a marketing ploy than a reflection of genuine technological innovation.

The widespread misuse of the term "AI" is misleading consumers and distorting the market. It's reminiscent of the 'greenwashing' trend, where companies falsely claimed to be environmentally friendly to capitalize on the growing demand for sustainable products. In the AI space, this "AI-washing" is diluting the significance of genuine AI advancements and creating confusion among consumers and IT buyers who struggle to differentiate between real AI innovations and mere marketing hype.

While there are certainly companies making groundbreaking advancements in AI, building sophisticated models from the ground up, and others leveraging open-source LLMs to create valuable products, the proliferation of fake AI claims is undermining the industry's credibility. ?IT buyers need to exercise caution and skepticism when confronted with products suddenly branded as AI-powered. Not every company that has been around for years can credibly claim to have adopted AI overnight.

This trend of AI becoming a hollow buzzword is troubling, especially as it begins to resemble the tactics used in political campaigns—filled with grandiose promises but lacking in substance. The tech industry, consumers, and stakeholders alike need to demand more transparency and integrity from companies. Simply slapping the AI label on a product is not enough; companies must clearly explain what AI technologies they use and how they enhance their products.

Real AI is about more than just a few lines of code or a basic algorithm. It involves complex, learning-driven models that can process and make decisions based on vast amounts of data at speeds and scales that surpass human capabilities. The conversation needs to shift from whether a product uses AI to how effectively it solves real-world problems and improves lives or business operations.

The AI industry must move beyond the superficial use of AI as a profit-driving buzzword and focus on delivering tangible value. Companies should be held accountable for their claims and be more transparent about the actual role AI plays in their products. ??

Only then can we foster a more informed, responsible, and innovative AI landscape—one that truly serves the needs of customers and society at large. - Adrian Jones, CEO & Co-Founder of Personar.