# Articles on AI Hype > Published February 13, 2026 · By Josh Mitchell > Updated March 8, 2026 The conversation around AI (really LLMs) continuously finds new hyperbolic peaks. Periods of disappointment and (insufficient) sanity follow. I'm grateful for the voices of reason that dig a little deeper into the breathless writings. Over time I've collected a decent list of pieces related to this cultural topic. The list is reproduced below. | Title | Author / Publisher | Publication Date | Comments | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [Companies Are Laying Off Workers Because of AI’s Potential—Not Its Performance](https://hbr.org/2026/01/companies-are-laying-off-workers-because-of-ais-potential-not-its-performance) | Thomas H. Davenport and Laks Srinivasan, Harvard Business Review | January 29, 2026 | Nuanced point made here: if companies truly are laying off because of AI, it is certainly *not* because of realized potential. | | [Tech Companies Showing Signs of Distress as They Run Out of Money for AI Infrastructure](https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-companies-distress-money-infrastructure) | Victor Tangermann, Futurism | Feb 4, 2026 | | | [A leading roboticist punctures the hype about self-driving cars, AI chatbots and humanoid robots](https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2026-01-06/leading-roboticist-punctures-hype-about-humanoid-robots-self-driving-cars-ai-chatbots) | Michael Hiltzik | Jan. 6, 2026 | A much-needed stabilizing voice in this fever pitch season | | [‘Robots Have Been About to Take All the Jobs for 100 Years’: A fictional memo inspires a market sell-off.](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/robots-have-been-about-to-take-all-the-jobs-for-100-years-95df4bcb?mod=hp_opin_pos_2) | James Freeman, WSJ | Feb 24, 2026 | Less on AI hype and more on the specific AI economic dooms | | [Rodney Brooks on Artificial Intelligence](https://www.econtalk.org/rodney-brooks-on-artificial-intelligence/) | Interview of Rodney Brooks, EconTalk's Russ Roberts | Sep 24 2018 | | | [AI Slop Is Destroying the Internet](https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/features/ai-slop-is-destroying-the-internet-these-are-the-people-fighting-to-save-it/) | Katelyn Chedraoui | Feb 22, 2026 | A piece on individuals trying to save the Internet from generative AI | | [Keep Calm and Adapt](https://quillette.com/2026/02/16/keep-calm-and-adapt-ai-matt-shumer-automation/) | Sean Welsh, Quillette | Feb 16, 2026 | A commentary on Matt Shumer's recent viral essay. | | [You Can’t Trust the **AI** Hype](https://www.palladiummag.com/2023/08/03/you-cant-trust-the-ai-hype/) | Ash Milton, Palladium | August 3, 2023 | One of the best in the list; discusses the "inevitability" of AI concept | | [Are We All Wrong About AI? When Academics Challenge the Silicon Valley Dream](https://www.hec.edu/en/school/news/are-we-all-wrong-about-ai-when-academics-challenge-silicon-valley-dream) | HEC Paris | February 10, 2025 | Perspective from the actual researchers; not the CEOs of the AI companies | | [Predictions Scorecard, 2025 January 01](https://rodneybrooks.com/predictions-scorecard-2025-january-01/) | Rodney Brooks, His Personal Blog | January 1, 2025 | Brooks gives his futuristic scorecard (Rodney Brooks makes frequent appearances on this list) | | [The AI Hype Cycle Is Distracting Companies](https://hbr.org/2023/06/the-ai-hype-cycle-is-distracting-companies) | Eric Siegel, Harvard Business Review | June 2, 2023 | | | [Can AI generate a way to pay for itself?](https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/23/23651976/ai-money-investment-vc-hype) | Elizabeth Lopatto, The Verge | May 23, 2023 | | | [Big Tech Struggles to Turn AI Hype Into Profits](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ais-costly-buildup-could-make-early-products-a-hard-sell-bdd29b9f) | Tom Dotan and Deepa Seetharaman, WSJ | Oct. 9, 2023 | | | [AI Struggles to Generate Money, Despite Hype](https://www.wsj.com/podcasts/tech-news-briefing/ai-struggles-to-generate-money-despite-hype/2fb2fc12-b080-421f-8a14-26c0d56f0a24) | Zoe Thomas, WSJ | October 12, 2023 | Podcast on WSJ (news briefing) discussing AI, Hype, and real economics | | [AI Panic = AI Hype](https://rushkoff.medium.com/ai-panic-ai-hype-b76b399b4a96) | Douglas Rushkoff, Medium | May 30, 2023 | This guy might be a little crazy -- but he still brings an interesting perspective | | Is AI Reporting Broken? <br>[Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ECr7hqfQkd8y7xj93GmmD?si=ea90399d29f048fa), [Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ep-391-is-ai-reporting-broken-rethinking-morning-routines/id1515786216?i=1000748893883), [YouTube](https://youtu.be/xUh3Gc-BAlo?si=NBS0UMjarxszIees) | Cal Newport, *Deep Questions* podcast | February 9, 2026 | Framework through which to view current reporting on AI | | Was 2025 a Great or Terrible Year for AI? (w/ Ed Zitron) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/4NzF5vI7uhX48qIYAsJrwy?si=b8be092a68304098), [Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/lv/podcast/ep-386-was-2025-a-great-or-terrible-year-for-ai-w-ed-zitron/id1515786216?i=1000743803087), [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ8pa9NiWm4) | Cal Newport, Ed Zitron | January 5, 2026 | Zitron goes a little too hard on the AI companies (even in my skeptical-forward opinion). Nonetheless, his view brings up many salient points | | ChatGPT is Not Alive! [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/18eABKKEjQf4fVEIAwALWS?si=c6649d0f63104be4), [Apple](https://podcasts.apple.com/bm/podcast/ep-380-chatgpt-is-not-alive/id1515786216?i=1000738102559), [The Deep Life Podcast](https://www.thedeeplife.com/podcasts/episodes/ep-380-chatgpt-is-not-alive/) | Cal Newport | November 24, 2025 | | | [Beware of the Hype: Navigating the AI Money-Making Landscape and Avoiding Scams](https://medium.com/@rob.wild/beware-of-the-hype-navigating-the-ai-money-making-landscape-and-avoiding-scams-1ae38ec4c1b6) | Robert Wild, Medium | April 23, 2023 | Applies to more than just the AI hype cycle; the attention economy fosters and promotes these types of con-"ish" hucksters | | [My Thoughts on ChatGPT](https://calnewport.com/my-thoughts-on-chatgpt/) | Cal Newport, *Deep Life* | April 13, 2023 | | | [What if AI Doesn't Get Much Better Than This?](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/open-questions/what-if-ai-doesnt-get-much-better-than-this) | Cal Newport, *The New Yorker* | Aug 12, 2025 | Newport discusses natural computation barriers encountered by LLMs | | [Beware The Hype Around AI](https://www.familywealthreport.com/article.php?id=197477) | Tom Burroughes<br>Group Editor, Family Wealth Report | March 31, 2023 | | | [Your job is (probably) safe from artificial intelligence](https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/05/07/your-job-is-probably-safe-from-artificial-intelligence) | Vincent Kilbride, *The Economist* | May 7, 2023 | | | [Defusing AI Panic](https://www.thedeeplife.com/podcasts/episodes/ep-306-defusing-ai-panic/) | Cal Newport, *Deep Life* | June 24, 2024 | Probably the best explanation of the technical architecture of LLMs like ChatGPT, Claude, etc. | | [Every start-up is an AI company now. Bubble fears are growing.](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/08/05/ai-hype-bubble-chatgpt/) | Gerrit De Vynck, *The Washington Post* | August 5, 2023 | | | [Don’t Get Distracted by the Hype Around Generative AI](https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/dont-get-distracted-by-the-hype-around-generative-ai/) | Lee Vinsel, MIT Sloan Management Review | May 23, 2023 | | | [All That Matters: Hype Cycle, Fear Cycle](https://www.bairdwealth.com/insights/market-insights/baird-market-strategy/2023/06/all-that-matters-hype-cycle-fear-cycle/) | Michael Antonelli & Ross Mayfield, Baird Wealth | June 15, 2023 | Interesting perspective that even if AI displaces people, it more likely creates more jobs (comparison to other economic revolutions of the past) | | [AI isn't driving tech layoffs — but it does make a good scapegoat](https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-companies-excuse-job-cuts-tech-layoffs-2024-1) | Beatrice Nolan, *Business Insider* | Feb 21, 2024 | A frequent tool by business executives who don't want to acknowledge they over-hired in 2020-era. | | [Camden Stein Camden Stein](https://moneyfortherestofus.com/542-dont-take-financial-advice-from-ai/) | Money for the Rest of Us (David Stein) | October 22, 2025 | One of my favorite, low-key podcasts | | [Six Principles for Thriving Under Uncertainty and How Big Tech is Doing the Opposite](https://moneyfortherestofus.com/535-six-principles-for-thriving/) | Money for the Rest of Us (David Stein) | August 13, 2025 | | | [Is AI the Next Climate Change?](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/is-ai-the-next-climate-change-e7a11637?mod=saved_content) | Barton Swaim, WSJ | Feb 4, 2026 | An interesting opinion piece comparing disaster language from recent eras | | [Your Key Survival Skill for 2026: Critical Ignoring](https://www.wsj.com/tech/personal-tech/critical-ignoring-social-media-7e236f52) | Christopher Mims, WSJ | Jan 2, 2026 | Just good tips to avoid succumbing to the traps of the attention economy | | [It Really Is Possible to Spend Too Much on AI](https://www.wsj.com/tech/it-really-is-possible-to-spend-too-much-on-ai-7bb68df1) | Asa Fitch, WSJ | Nov 26, 2025 | | | [Wall Street Blows Past Bubble Worries to Supercharge AI Spending Frenzy](https://www.wsj.com/finance/investing/wall-street-ai-spending-bubble-810d270e?mod=saved_content) | Matt Wirz & Peter Rudegeair, WSJ | Nov 15, 2025 | | | [You May Already Be Bailing Out the AI Business](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/you-may-already-be-bailing-out-the-ai-business-dd67d452) | Sarah Myers West and Amba Kak | Nov 12, 2025 | | | [Spending on AI Is at Epic Levels. Will It Ever Pay Off?](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ai-bubble-building-spree-55ee6128) | Eliot Brown & Robbie Whelan | Sept 25, 2025 | A wild statement from this piece: "consultants at Bain & Co. estimated the wave of AI infrastructure spending will require $2 trillion in annual AI revenue by 2030. By comparison, that is more than the combined 2024 revenue of Amazon, Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta and Nvidia, and more than five times the size of the entire global subscription software market." | | [Anthropomorphism in AI: hype and fallacy](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43681-024-00419-4) | Adriana Placani, *AI and Ethics* | February 5, 2024 | Original research | | [What Would Hayek Think of AI?](https://www.wsj.com/opinion/what-would-hayek-think-of-ai-technology-society-planning-885a6d1b) | Gary Saul Morson & Julio M. Ottino | June 30, 2025 | | | [Sam Altman Is Spouting Weapons Grade Copium](https://www.planetearthandbeyond.co/p/sam-altman-is-spouting-weapons-grade) | Will Lockett, Planet Earth and Beyond | Nov 21, 2024 | | | [AI and the Rise of Mediocrity](https://time.com/6337835/ai-mediocrity-essay/) | Ray Nayler, Time Magazine | Nov 27, 2023 | A phenomenon I think we should *actually* be worried about | | [‘Superintelligence,’ Ten Years On](https://quillette.com/2024/07/02/superintelligence-10-years-on-nick-bostrom-ai-safety-agi/) | Sean Welsh, Quillette | July 2, 2024 | | | [AI reduces critical thinking<br>](https://wvnexus.org/opinions/ai-reduces-critical-thinking/) | Leanne Fan, the Nexus | February 16, 2024 | Another phenomenon I believe is actually concerning (not super intelligent AI) | | [The AI Revolution Is Already Losing Steam](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/the-ai-revolution-is-already-losing-steam-a93478b1) | Christopher Mims | May 31, 2024 | I wonder if tech companies are inventing new ways (a race to the bottom) to scare the public into FOMO / catastrophizing to keep attention on their "solutions" | | [AI isn't useless. But is it worth it?](https://www.citationneeded.news/ai-isnt-useless/) | Molly White, Citation Needed | April 17, 2024 | A view I can get behind; I wish we'd asked this question about social media (and the iPhone) | # Examples of Hype I'm not as inclined to collect these. Decided to start capturing some of these wilder articles. Probably a good way to hold writers and tech leaders accountable for what they say. | Title | Author / Publisher | Publication Date | Comments | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------- | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | [Silicon Valley Braces for Chaos](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/05/silicon-valley-reacts-to-trump/682799/) | Matteo Wong, *The Atlantic* | May 13, 2025 | To be fair to Mr. Wong, he's just reporting the breathless beliefs of tech workers in the trenches. | | [The Week the Dreaded AI Jobs Wipeout Got Real](https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/the-week-the-dreaded-ai-jobs-wipeout-got-real-3ba5057b?mod=tech_lead_story) | Chip Cutter, WSJ | February 28, 2026 | This article does little to question the very real likelihood that Block over-hired and is trying to correct bad decisions. |