AI hype vs reality: how to spot what matters to you

Here’s something I bet you’ve never heard:

“A new Microsoft Excel update! wow! This changes everything”

But if you’re even vaguely paying attention to AI, you’ll hear people say similar things:

“Stop what you’re doing - ChatGPT has upgraded from 5.1 to 5.2!”

"You won’t believe how much better Gemini Deep Think 3 is compared to Gemini 2.5 Pro. I need to sit down!”

You’ll hear these updates talked about like earth-shattering historical events, when often it sounds more like we’re breathlessly analysing a firmware update for a washing machine.

What does this all this… noise mean for regular people? That’s the question we’re constantly asking here at Good with AI.

Like most people, we’re not immune to a bit of hype here and there - but we are keeping an eye on the longer term trends.

Whilst undeniably each release and new model is better than the last, what’s actually exciting - and dare we say more relevant for most of us - is the slow, steady progress that isn’t talked about as much.

Here’s the “slow news” which is making a difference:

1. Document creation - over the last 12 months AI has quietly mastered basic but useable Powerpoints, moderately complicated Excel workbooks - including multiple sheets and financial modelling, and producing pdfs.

2. Image creation is nearly perfect now - no more ai influencers with six fingers on each of their three hands

3. Less hallucinations (AI making stuff up to please the user) - are still an issue but significantly less than even 6 months ago.

4. Automating simple processes and working as independent agents / team members.

5. Coding / software creation - just like squarespace, wordpress & wix made building websites accessible for regular people, AI now enables software and apps for normal people.

   
   This is what we teach (and practise) on our Good with AI cohorts… with 4 start dates in 2026 and places filling up.

The online hype and FOMO is enough to make you want to tune out completely. But we think the "Toy Phase" of AI is nearly over.

If you strip away the marketing gloss, we are left with a set of tools that have quietly become competent at the things humans generally don’t like doing.

We think that’s worth getting excited over. When you get good at it, AI can give you back your time, and do more meaningful and impactful work.

Part 2 lands in your inbox tomorrow - where each of us at Good with AI - Ben, Cien & Henry - share our thoughts on what’s worth paying attention to and what new tools we see that can help you.

Thanks,

Ben, Cien, Henry - Good with AI

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