Here's the thing: when it comes to artificial intelligence, people's expectations can be all over the place. A recent survey revealed that while many believe AI will revolutionize industries, there's also a strong sense of skepticism. For instance, many respondents feel that the benefits of AI are often overstated, and they worry about its potential risks [21][24]. You might be wondering why that is. Well, it turns out that public perception is heavily influenced by how AI is portrayed in the media. A study found that people often have inflated expectations due to optimistic news stories and sci-fi movies that paint a utopian picture of AI's capabilities [23][28]. But in reality, many applications of AI still struggle to meet those high hopes, leading to a significant recalibration of expectations among users [25][29]. Interestingly enough, the survey also highlighted that while 84% of researchers are using AI tools, many are feeling a disconnect between their initial expectations and the actual outcomes they experience [22][25]. This gap can create frustration, especially when the technology doesn’t deliver as promised. It’s a classic case of wanting the shiny new toy but realizing it doesn’t quite work the way you imagined. The bottom line is that while AI has incredible potential, understanding its limitations is just as important as recognizing its benefits.