The first real-time voice assistant

Hype Cycle

The Gartner hype cycle provides a framework for understanding the lifecycle of technologies, including generative AI. Chris Benson explains that technologies often experience a peak of inflated expectations followed by a trough of disillusionment before reaching a plateau of productivity 1. Generative AI, after enjoying significant hype, is now entering the trough of disillusionment as organizations realize its limitations 2.

We wasted a lot of money on it, and it's just not, it's just not really worked out well for us.

--- Chris Benson

Despite this, Chris believes that with practical application, AI can eventually find its place in the productive landscape, similar to past technologies like blockchain 3.

   

Corporate Reality

Corporations are grappling with the realities of integrating generative AI into their operations. Daniel Whitenack notes that many initially believed AI would be a standalone solution, but are now realizing the need for thoughtful integration into existing systems 4. This shift in perception is seen as a healthy development, as it aligns AI with traditional engineering practices 2.

There's still a need to think about how we integrate a call to a large language model in the context of a larger engineering project.

--- Daniel Whitenack

Chris emphasizes the importance of moving past the initial excitement to focus on practical applications and integration within the broader technological ecosystem 3.