A thread on the subreddit, titled “Very disappointed with the direction of AI,” ignites a heated discussion about artificial intelligence’s trajectory in 2025¹. Started by user GolangLinuxGuru1979, the post takes aim at generative AI’s dominance, with popular comments and the original poster’s (OP) replies revealing a split over AI’s focus and impact.
GolangLinuxGuru1979 vents frustration, writing, “Very disappointed with the direction of AI… AI is being used almost entirely as a marketing tool to replace jobs, secure funding, and sell to CEOs… The promise of AI was to aid humanity in areas like cancer research or medical innovations. GenAI has damaged the promise of AI… utter junk and trash.” They add a glimmer of optimism, noting, “I still have hope for things like neuromorphic computing”¹. Their critique frames AI as prioritizing corporate gains over human progress, sparking a wave of responses.

User reddit455 counters with concrete examples, stating, “AI is not just the app on your phone… AI-assisted mammograms for cancer detection, Harvard’s AI in Medicine Program, pharmaceutical industry, a ‘self-evolving’ virtual hospital concept in China, and even a robot for dental implant surgery”¹. These examples showcase AI’s meaningful contributions in healthcare and science. OP responds, “I appreciate the examples, but my point is the hype around GenAI overshadows these advancements”¹, doubling down on their issue with generative AI’s outsized spotlight.
In a widely upvoted reply, challengeaccepted9 sharpens the focus, writing, “It feels like your annoyance is with the attention given to generative AI rather than AI as a whole”¹. OP agrees, replying, “Exactly, the media hypes up chatbots while real breakthroughs get ignored”¹, clarifying that their beef is with generative AI’s visibility, not AI’s broader progress.

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User QueshunableCorekshun offers a broader perspective, noting, “The perceived issue is with what humanity chooses to focus on, not AI itself… There are tons of applications that are indeed helping humanity, but these are used by experts and thus less known to the general public”¹. OP engages, responding, “I get that, but why is the focus on flashy tools instead of these expert systems?”¹ Their exchange emphasizes a shared concern about public priorities skewing AI’s narrative.
While some see generative AI as a corporate money grab, it has undeniably leveled the playing field, giving everyday people access to tools once reserved for professionals. Small business owners, for example, can now create a logo with AI on a budget, even if they later hire an artist for a refined version. This accessibility, much like the smartphone revolution, brings a convenience that’s tough to measure. Gone are the days of begging to use a stranger’s phone after running out of gas, only to be chased by their dog back to the car (yes, that happened to me, lol).
Sources:
¹ https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtificialInteligence/comments/1lxd64s/very_disappointed_with_the_direction_of_ai/
Title photo generated by Gemini AI
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