The Rising Wave of AI: A Look at the Current Hype Cycle
In recent years, the buzz surrounding artificial intelligence has become almost impossible to ignore. The rapid growth of AI interest has been significant, particularly acknowledged by Zach Perkel of Fractal, a leading enterprise AI firm. According to Perkel, there's now a notable peak in AI news coverage, notably on platforms like Y Combinator's Hacker News.
Perkel's comprehensive analysis covered 24,910 articles from Hacker News, ranging from January 2019 up through mid-August 2025. The results show a tremendous growth in AI-related content, with a striking increase from just 39 articles in the first quarter of 2019 to a astonishing 337 by the third quarter of 2025.
This explosive interest in AI aligns with the post-ChatGPT era, marking a significant shift in public engagement with AI technologies. The public release of ChatGPT in November 2022 served as a pivotal point, igniting widespread conversation and engagement with AI, as noted from the sharp increase in related news stories starting in early 2023.
A remarkable leap occurred between the last quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023. Public adaptation to ChatGPT went from non-existent to an everyday interaction with AI interfaces. More recently, the conversations regarding AI have intensified further, surpassing even these previous spikes.
Interestingly, Hacker News, known for a more knowledgeable audience, recorded an increasing trend of negative sentiment towards AI. Perkel's sentiment analysis revealed that the third quarter of 2025 witnessed the highest figure yet, with 42% of content criticizing AI, up from 36% the previous quarter.
The prevalent view suggests an AI bubble may be forming, prompting discussions about a potential burst. However, the AI arena remains dynamic, particularly with notable growths like OpenAI nearing a $500 billion valuation. The sentiment around AI continues to evolve, reflecting broader societal impacts, caution, and anticipation surrounding its future.
