Technologies are misleadingly marketed as AI to attract investment and consumer interest. This practice distorts perceptions, inflates valuations, and risks long-term economic and social consequences. Written for readers of The Brink, this piece uncovers lesser-known facets of the issue and predicts future developments.

In 2023, the tech world was buzzing with a shiny new job title—AI Prompt Engineer. Salaries soared to $335,000 a year, companies scrambled to hire, and it was hailed as the gateway to the AI revolution. Its 2025, and whispers are spreading: is this red-hot role already extinct? Did AI outsmart its own creators, or is the truth more nuanced?