Again, the current uses of AI, chatbots etc. are not what all the hubbub is about.
That said, here is The Register with a couple articles, October 8:
Most scientists now use the tech in their work, but still question its usefulness
AI hype is colliding with reality yet again. Wiley's global survey of researchers finds more of them using the tech than ever, and fewer convinced it's up to the job.
Academic publisher Wiley noted a link between researchers' use of AI and their confidence in its ability to perform as well as a human in a preview of its second ExplanAItions study on researchers' use of the technology. There were also some signs that respondents are happy with AI's ability to assist their work, but plunging confidence is definitely the hot-ticket takeaway.
Comparing this year's survey of researchers from around the globe, 2,430 of whom participated, Wiley found that 84 percent are using AI tools to aid their work, up from just 57 percent in 2024. Here's the kicker: 53 percent of respondents in 2024's ExplanAItions report [PDF] believed that AI was already exceeding human capabilities in the use cases Wiley tested. In 2025, that number dropped to less than a third.
It's easy to look at those numbers and come to the conclusion that the AI enthusiasm of early adopters simply doesn't match reality for others who are now trying to use the tech to see if it lives up to the hype. This year's findings even suggest that's the case, as early adopters still think AI outperforms humans in 59 percent of use cases.
Wiley tries to paint those findings differently, however. According to the report preview, researchers are "coming to a better understanding of [AI's] present limits and future potential" - not, as the data suggests, the larger research community simply realizing it's a bit useless for complex tasks....
....MUCH MORE
And October 9:
McKinsey wonders how to sell AI apps with no measurable benefits
