Another Crazy Day in AI: Why This Technology Cycle Is Different
- Wowza Team
- Jan 22
- 3 min read
Hello, AI Enthusiasts.
Here's another crazy day in AI:
Beyond the bubble conversation
How AI shopping protocols are taking shape
Why critical thinking matters more in an AI era
Some AI tools to try out
🎧 Listen to a quick breakdown of today’s stories.
TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Where AI Stands and Where It's Going
Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram)
How can we tell whether momentum is sustainable or simply loud?
What if everything we've seen from artificial intelligence so far—the millions using ChatGPT, the productivity gains, the heated debates about bubbles—is just the warm-up? In a recent OpenAI Podcast episode, CFO Sarah Friar sits down with legendary investor Vinod Khosla to argue that we're not in an AI bubble, but rather at the very start of a fundamental infrastructure shift as transformative as electricity itself. The conversation unpacks why the real story of 2026 isn't whether AI will matter, but how quickly we can close the gap between AI's potential and how people actually use it today.
The discussion moves beyond market speculation to explore what's actually happening on the ground. Friar and Khosla examine practical applications across consumer and enterprise sectors, the metrics that matter when measuring genuine demand, and what the next few years might bring for healthcare, robotics, and workplace productivity. Their central premise is straightforward: the best indicator of real adoption isn't stock prices or venture capital flows, but how much people and businesses actually use these tools.
Key points from their conversation include:
Practical adoption is what counts: Real impact comes from people and organizations actually using AI tools consistently.
Foundational infrastructure: AI is becoming embedded in systems and processes, influencing how work and services are delivered.
Cross-industry possibilities: Healthcare, robotics, and workplace productivity are already showing measurable benefits.
Engagement over hype: Metrics that matter focus on real-world usage, not media attention or investment levels.
Untapped potential remains: While adoption is growing, much of AI’s capabilities are still waiting to be realized.
The episode walks a line between describing what's already happening and predicting what might come next. When Friar talks about finance teams using AI to scan contracts or Khosla mentions companies running lean operations, these reflect current reality in some organizations. The physician adoption numbers are concrete. At the same time, both speakers have professional interests in presenting AI growth favorably—one runs finance at OpenAI, the other is a major investor. Their point about tracking API calls rather than stock prices to understand demand makes sense on its face, though we're still early enough that it's unclear which metrics will prove most telling. The bolder predictions about robotics and economic changes depend on variables that are hard to forecast with confidence. What comes through most clearly is that some organizations are finding genuine value in AI tools today, regulatory frameworks are still catching up in areas like healthcare, and there's a significant gap between what these systems can theoretically do and how most people currently use them.
Watch the full conversation here.
OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:
How AI Shopping Protocols Are Taking Shape
/PayPal Newsroom
AI-powered shopping is moving fast, with assistants like ChatGPT and Gemini increasingly handling product discovery, comparisons, and even purchases. To make this possible, new agentic commerce protocols—such as OpenAI’s ACP and Google’s UCP—are emerging to define how AI agents, merchants, and payment systems interact. PayPal breaks down how these protocols differ and why trust, identity, payments, and fraud protection become even more critical when an AI agent clicks “Buy.” For merchants, understanding this evolving protocol landscape is quickly becoming a prerequisite for participating in AI-driven commerce.
Read more here.
Why Critical Thinking Matters More in an AI Era
/Jeff Crume, IBM Distinguished Engineer, on IBM Technology (YouTube)
Generative AI is forcing educators to rethink traditional teaching methods, especially assignments that AI can now complete with ease. IBM’s Jeff Crume argues that instead of resisting AI, education should focus more on critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability—skills that technology can’t easily replace. AI, he explains, can serve as a personalized tutor, accessibility tool, and learning assistant when used thoughtfully. The challenge ahead lies in balancing AI literacy, ethics, and human judgment in the classroom.
Check it out here.
SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:
LTX Audio to Video – Generate videos directly from audio with AI.
Lynote – Summarize videos, PDFs, and articles into clear notes instantly with AI.
Articos – AI-powered user research that turns ideas into real audience insights in minutes.
That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.
Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉
EXCITING NEWS:
The Another Crazy Day in AI newsletter is on LinkedIn!!!
Leveraging AI for Enhanced Content: As part of our commitment to exploring new technologies, we used AI to help curate and refine our newsletters. This enriches our content and keeps us at the forefront of digital innovation, ensuring you stay informed with the latest trends and developments.
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