This article highlights the dangers of AI boosterism on social media, specifically focusing on inflated claims surrounding large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI's GPT-5. The core AI implication is the potential erosion of public trust and the distortion of research priorities due to overhyped, and potentially unsubstantiated, claims of AI breakthroughs, exemplified by the embarrassing retraction of claims regarding GPT-5 solving unsolved math problems.
In healthcare, overhyped claims about AI solving medical problems could lead to premature adoption of unproven technologies, potentially harming patients. Similarly, in education, unrealistic expectations around AI tutors or automated grading systems could negatively impact learning outcomes. The legal sector might face challenges when dealing with liability surrounding AI-driven errors based on inflated promises.
AI boosterism can lead to unrealistic expectations regarding the capabilities of LLMs, leading to misallocation of resources and flawed deployment strategies in business operations. Over-reliance on unverified AI solutions can disrupt established workflows, diminish productivity, and require substantial investment in recalibration to mitigate errors and ensure functional utility.