Beyond the AI Hype: Why We’re Still Far from True Intelligence

In recent years, “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) has become a buzzword, popping up everywhere—from tech conferences to boardrooms to everyday conversations. From chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini to creative tools like OpenArt and Invideo, AI is being hailed as the future of technology. But after using these so-called AI tools daily—for scheduling, writing, creating coloring books for kids, and generating copyright-free images—I’ve come to a realization: there’s no true AI yet. What we have are advanced tools dressed up as AI, designed to create hype, drive sales, and, ultimately, make money for big tech companies.

The Illusion of Artificial Intelligence

When we think of AI, we often picture machines that can think, reason, and learn like humans. But reality is far from that sci-fi fantasy. Tools like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Gemini, and Qwen are essentially just supercharged search engines. They don’t “understand” or “think” the way humans do. Instead, they sift through massive amounts of pre-existing information, process user inputs, and generate responses based on patterns and algorithms. These Large Language Models (LLMs) might sound human, but they don’t actually comprehend what they’re saying. They’re just organizing and presenting information in a way that feels natural to us.

The same goes for creative AI tools like OpenArt, Freepik, and Artistry. They use immense computing power to generate images, videos, and designs. While the results may look impressive, they’re not truly original. These tools don’t create from scratch; they remix and modify existing data to generate something that appears new. This isn’t intelligence—it’s just an extremely sophisticated form of computation.

What is True Intelligence?

If today’s AI isn’t truly intelligent, what would real AI look like? True intelligence would mean machines that possess consciousness, self-awareness, and genuine understanding—not just pattern recognition. A truly intelligent system would be able to think independently, form new ideas beyond what was programmed, and apply abstract reasoning to completely new situations. It wouldn’t just process huge amounts of data; it would actually comprehend, learn in a human-like way, and adapt to things it has never encountered before. Right now, we’re nowhere near that level.

The Role of Nvidia and the AI Hype

One of the biggest signs that AI is more hype than reality is the skyrocketing rise of Nvidia. This company, known for its powerful GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), has become a cornerstone of the so-called AI revolution. Why? Because these GPUs are needed to run the complex algorithms behind modern AI tools. Nvidia’s massive valuation isn’t proof that true AI exists—it just shows that there’s a huge demand for computing power to fuel today’s AI tools. In many ways, the AI boom is really a hardware boom.

So, if AI is so revolutionary, why does it rely so much on existing hardware and pre-built datasets? The answer is simple: because what we call AI today isn’t truly intelligent. It’s just a collection of tools that use brute-force computing power to mimic intelligence. These tools are impressive, no doubt, but they’re not the self-aware, thinking machines people imagine.

AI in India: A Nation Embracing Technology

India is rapidly integrating AI across multiple industries. Edtech platforms like Byju’s and Unacademy use AI for personalized learning, while fintech giants like Paytm and Razorpay rely on AI-driven fraud detection. AI is even being used in agriculture, with predictive models helping farmers make better decisions.

The Indian government’s ‘Digital India’ initiative is also embracing AI, aiming to improve agriculture through crop prediction models and expand healthcare accessibility with AI-driven telemedicine solutions. But there are hurdles—especially when it comes to making AI work for India’s 22 officially recognized languages. While English-based AI models are dominant, creating effective and culturally sensitive AI for languages like Hindi, Tamil, or Bengali is still a major challenge.

The Fear vs. The Reality

With all the hype, many people worry that AI will take jobs, disrupt industries, and change the world as we know it. While AI is certainly transforming work, the fear is largely exaggerated. At the end of the day, these tools still need human oversight, guidance, and input to function properly. Learning to use AI effectively is important, but it doesn’t require a complete overhaul of how we think about work or intelligence.

In India, a major concern is how AI will impact the IT services sector, which employs millions in cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Many call centers are already using AI-powered chatbots to handle initial customer inquiries in regional languages, reducing the need for human agents. But rather than replacing jobs entirely, AI is more likely to shift job roles—creating new demand for workers who can manage, train, and improve AI systems.

Another growing issue is AI-generated misinformation, especially during elections. Deepfake videos and AI-generated propaganda are becoming serious threats to democracy. This highlights the urgent need for better media literacy, strong fact-checking systems, and strict regulations to curb AI-driven misinformation.

Where is AI Really Headed?

Despite AI’s current limitations, research continues to push forward. Scientists and engineers are working on more advanced machine learning techniques, neural networks, and even the idea of artificial general intelligence (AGI). While true AI may still be far off, we can expect continuous improvements in AI-driven automation, decision-making, and human-computer interactions. Whether AI ever reaches human-like intelligence is still uncertain, but one thing is clear: this journey is just beginning.

The term “AI” has been turned into a marketing tool—a way to sell products and services by tapping into public fascination with futuristic technology. But the reality is, today’s AI is just a collection of advanced tools. They’re powerful, yes, but they’re not intelligent. They rely on existing data, algorithms, and brute computing power to simulate intelligence, but they don’t truly understand or think.

So, don’t panic. AI isn’t a doomsday machine coming to take over jobs or society. It’s an opportunity—a chance to learn new tools and adapt to evolving technologies. But we shouldn’t mistake these tools for something they’re not. If true AI ever arrives, it will be a game-changing moment unlike anything we’ve seen before. Until then, we’re just working with smart tools—impressive, but still just tools. And it’s up to us to make sure they’re used ethically and responsibly.