How artificial intelligence became annoying, not innovative

The landscape of the internet is always changing. I know that, you know that, and artificial intelligence knows that.

This has been a reality of going online since the web was created, but it seems like recent changes are happening at an alarmingly fast pace. Around every virtual corner, you’ll find something made by artificial intelligence (AI). Whether you’re looking at a computer-generated image, talking to a chatbot, or receiving search results, machines are trying to recreate the human experience.

If you follow the news — particularly with the buzz around Apple Intelligence — you’re probably starting to feel like AI is the future of technology. And you’re probably right, but in the present, most uses feel underdeveloped. Beta tools are being shoved in our faces, and in most cases, it’s quite obvious.

It often feels like AI is being offered to solve problems that didn’t exist. While it can enhance productivity, most users feel trepidatious toward these tools, and there’s a good reason. They can navigate computer problems, but they don’t understand what it means to be human.

There seems to be a lot of confusion around AI, but once you see it in use, it doesn’t seem that innovative. Many of the most common uses aren’t anything new and they’re very obvious. In fact, if you’re a member of Gen X, Millennials, or Gen Z, it feels like you’ve been training to spot AI for ages.