Sometimes I feel like I’m living in a parallel universe because all I’ve seen for the past 3+ years until very recently has been breathless think-pieces about how this specific version of AI is the future and everyone has to get on board or be left behind. Every time one of these CEOs with massive vested interests open their mouths, the press goes to bat for them and publishes dozens of new scary headlines showing number go up.

I think that's true for the tech & financial press, for obvious reasons. Outside of that bubble journalists and writers have been very anxious, given AI seems to directly threaten their profession even further.

The tech press does not universally view AI as useful. Indeed, there is an entire subindustry of anti-tech press that stands ready to reflexively denounce AI at every opportunity. But even seemingly neutral or pro-tech outlets such as Ars Technica are ambivalent. Ars has one editor apparently dedicated to saying negative things about Gemini, for example.

Nor do most folks using it. Which isn't totally novel: I have almost no idea how an internal combustion engine works. But I do know enough to realize that it's not appropriate to drive my car on a bike path.