From prophet to product: How AI came back down to earth in 2025

Here's something that caught my attention — AI's hype cycle took a sharp turn in 2025. After years of being hailed as the ultimate game-changer, experts like /u/NISMO1968 in a piece on AI note that AI's lofty promises started to cool off. So what happened? Well, for starters, the sky-high expectations ran into real-world limits. Instead of revolutionary breakthroughs every other week, companies focused more on practical, down-to-earth applications — think smarter chatbots and more reliable automation. According to the article, this shift was partly driven by the realization that AI’s capabilities were often overhyped, leading to a kind of reality check. And get this — investors and developers are now more cautious, prioritizing sustainable growth over quick wins. As /u/NISMO1968 points out, AI’s future isn’t about prophets predicting endless progress but about product-focused solutions that actually work. So, the big takeaway? AI’s comeback is grounded in realism, and that’s a win for everyone who just wants tech they can trust.