AI Is Like Tinkerbell: It Only Works If We Believe in It - Futurism

This article argues that the vast hype surrounding AI has much in common with the “Tinkerbell Effect,” where belief alone keeps an idea alive. Just as Tinkerbell from Peter Pan needs the audience’s applause to exist, emerging tech like AI—still looking for practical applications and sustainable business models—relies on widespread conviction in its future potential. Tech giants, investors, and industry thought leaders manufacture anticipation by inundating the market with promises, new product launches, and grand visions. According to the author, this belief-based strategy allows AI companies to keep fundraising and remain afloat even when technical and economic realities lag behind the promises.

Yet if people stop “clapping” for AI—whether that means cutting back on funding, scaling down coverage, or discarding the reverent narrative—its momentum could fade as abruptly as other once-hyped technologies such as 3D TVs, Google Glass, and the metaverse. The long-term success of AI isn’t merely about having enough data, compute power, or capital; it also hinges on sustaining collective faith in AI’s capacity to transform society. If skepticism overtakes enthusiasm, grand AI visions could rapidly dissolve, revealing that “disbelief” can be just as powerful as the hype that created them.