Rocket Boost AI, The Orbit of Innovation: Why Public Opinion Shapes AI’s Future—And Why Infrastructure Is the Real Bottleneck
Does anyone remember 3D televisions?
If you’ve followed technology trends at all over the past decade, you’ve probably heard talk of the Gartner Hype Cycle. Popularised by leading research organisation Gartner, the hype cycle describes how emerging technologies tend to progress through five phases as they “go from concept to mainstream adoption.” Each phase is plotted along two axes: the height of expectations against the degree of adoption by the public.
So where does AI sit on this infamous chart?
To understand the hype cycle, we need to understand why some technologies plateau on their journey to becoming part of everyday life—while others fall flat. Let’s rewind to the year 2009. Avatar had just been released to record-breaking box office success. Directed by James Cameron, the science fiction film was praised for its cinematic innovations—including its use of cutting-edge 3D technology.
Samsung and Panasonic sensed an opportunity. Within months of Avatar’s release both consumer electronics giants rushed to market with their own-brand 3D televisions. By 2010, Sony projected that 3D televisions would account for 50% of its total television sales by 2013.
Every major TV manufacturer at CES that year touted 3D as the future of home entertainment. Three years later Samsung discontinued its 3D TV business, followed by Sony, Panasonic, LG, Toshiba and every other major manufacturer by 2017. What gives? Stereoscopic television sets didn’t suddenly become technologically obsolete. Nor was there some kind of grand conspiracy among manufacturers. 3D TVs failed for any number of reasons—cumulatively meaningless to consumers. The glasses were annoying and expensive, image quality was poorer, there wasn’t much content available…and nobody really asked for them in the first place.
Transformative technology cycles.
I bring up 3D televisions because they’re evidence of a much wider trend. Of the thousands (perhaps millions) of technologies developed over the past century, very few become truly transformative; part of the fabric of everyday life. This is because the machines that comprise new technologies aren’t subjects of hype cycles—they’re people are.
Take broadband internet. Broadband connections became widely available in the UK twenty-six years ago in a Kent trial. Yet despite constant iteration and significant private and public-sector investment, faster Fibre broadband to premises networks are expected to take until April 2026 to reach 95% of UK premises, they started in 2008 via Virgin Media.
The “chasm” or the “early market chasm,” referred to in the above charts gap between the early adopters and the early majority in the technology adoption curve. This gap represents a challenge for retailers, as it can be difficult to transition from early adopters to the early majority.
Part of the reason it’s taken so long to achieve near-universal broadband coverage is that infrastructure investments—major, long-term investments in things like broadband networks and data centres—are HARD. Changing human minds, however, is much harder.
Public opinion shapes the future of AI.
When properly implemented, artificial intelligence can empower workers and augment workplace relationships. Sloppily implemented AI paints a future in which robots steal our jobs and algorithms fracture our workplaces. While technology capabilities will certainly influence how AI is adopted, public attitudes about how AI should (and shouldn’t) be deployed will shape whether the technology delivers on its promise or becomes the next cubic tonachrome TV.
We see posts and literature on social media everyday on how AI can be bad for business and society as a whole. People need to continue to speak out regarding their fears and concerns of AI. Over the past twelve months, we have seen a big shift in the majority of the businesses who have moved away from having anti AI views and opinions.
These shifted mindsets have resulted in obtaining real value in their work and productivity. Achieved through applying AI driven automated workflows and training on the new technology trends. Their businesses and services have the best opportunity to scale and reach a wider customer base, than what would have been possible before.
There will always be some who will never accept AI in their role or business, that won’t halt the technology progressing, but these valuable views and opinions need to be taken onboard and will help to steer what AI does and how it does it in the future.
We’re living in the Age of AI, but humanity has been here before.
Remember when everybody was talking about VR back in 2016? Or maybe drones were more your thing. Whatever immersive technology you hoped would become mainstream two decades ago, you’re surely delighted that it hasn’t—and here’s why.
3D TVs, drones, and VR headsets are examples of what technologists call subconscious technologies. Each promised to revolutionise the way we work and play. While they may sound nostalgic, failure is actually common when it comes to new technologies. Far fewer technologies ever reach the Plateau of Productivity than launch upon the Peak of Inflated Expectations.
The reason technology adoption takes the shape of an orbital graph is that humans decide which technologies succeed and which become footnotes in textbooks. We’re living in the Age of AI because enough people want AI to be the future.
Fibre Broadband took nearly two decades to reach majority adoption because it was good enough to keep us coming back, but didn’t outright replace Standard Broadband in most people’s minds. Certainly, better than dial-up 56kb and the modem screaming noise when logging on to the internet in the 90s.
People are AI’s constraint
Over the past decade artificial intelligence has gone from cool new cloud-based thing that Google does to near-ubiquitous technology that every business feels pressured to adopt, instead on office based servers. As with any major technological shift, this new focus on AI has been accompanied by a tidal wave of hype.
The truth is AI solves problems. There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that generative AI tools will redefine entire professions—even as we speak AI is augmenting the way businesses communicate and process data.
Think about the fact it requires a human to verify the AI got it right.
Video conferencing became indispensable when the pandemic forced millions of workers into remote work arrangements. Platforms like Zoom were instrumental in keeping organisations moving forward. At the peak of lockdowns over a THIRD of the workforce was working entirely from home. By the end of the pandemic almost no organisation wanted employees to return to work exactly as it was. While employees and employers across the country discovered the benefits of remote work, they also realised the drawbacks.
The simple truth is in-person collaboration fosters human connection in a way that video conferencing cannot.
Humans are AI’s bottleneck and required for effective outputs.
AI Leaders need people, like people need AI Leaders.
On one level, AI doesn’t care whether we use it to enrich our jobs or replace them. At the end of the day, however, artificial intelligence is a tool made by humans and for humans. The pandemic taught us that we can’t let technology completely replace human interaction. Likewise, just because we can use AI to replace employees doesn’t mean we should.
Technology that replaces humans might meet expectations, but AI that empowers humans will exceed them. Use AI where it makes sense, but remember that AI’s purpose is to help humans, not replace them. With competitors using AI to cut jobs and attract tech talent, many organisations feel pressure to use AI like everyone else.
Nobody asked for 3D TVs but companies sold them anyway
Inertia is a powerful force. When a technology reaches Peak Expectations it’s easy to feel like adoption is inevitable. As with any new technology, companies rushing to implement AI this year can learn a lot from the industries that came before them.
Here at Rocket Boost AI we often talk about “people-first AI.” At its core being “people first” with AI means always designing your AI systems with the end-user in mind. While there’s value in trying new technologies for the sake of staying on top of innovation, companies that deploy AI thoughtlessly just chase the hype.
Apply AI where it helps
Helping your employees do their jobs more efficiently or more effectively is the best way to start your AI journey.
Take a moment to look around your office and ask yourself: where can AI augment my employees?
How does Rocket Boost AI empower my people to do their jobs better?
Remember—in most cases AI shouldn’t be looking for jobs to replace, it should be looking for people to help.
Rocket Boost AI, based in Chester, are eager to help you through this process. We’re spending 2026 helping clients around the UK understand their core needs, and how AI can help them meet those needs.
How RocketBoost AI In Chester Enhances AI Capabilities
How To Start Your Generative AI Journey The Right Way.
You can also book a free consultation to see how Rocket Boost AI can help you start your AI journey the right way.
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