The Digital Press

The article compares the current state of AI to the early, slow days of the internet in 1995, arguing that debates about AI’s impact echo past optimism and skepticism about the internet’s future. It explores how AI may transform employment differently across industries, the possibility of an AI investment bubble, and the unpredictable nature of AI’s long-term effects.

Why it matters: Understanding AI’s impact on jobs and industry helps manage expectations and guides strategic investment in technology and workforce development.

The big picture: AI’s evolution parallels the internet’s early days—initial hype, infrastructure build-out, and eventual transformative societal shifts.

The stakes: Over-investment risks a bubble similar to the dot-com crash, but infrastructure spending may still yield lasting benefits despite short-term failures.

Commenters say: Readers highlight parallels and differences with past tech booms, debate AI’s true maturity, caution against overhype, and emphasize the unpredictability of AI’s future.