Don't despair! Each new generation starts hopeful, and goes through its own hype-bust cycles. It is human to dream, and businesses have evolved to sell hope acc

Don't despair! Each new generation starts hopeful, and goes through its own hype-bust cycles. It is human to dream, and businesses have evolved to sell hope accordingly. An eye for simplicity and a good set of BS detectors are not easy skills to learn. There's a whole spectrum between being a guinea-pig for the latest fad, and living like an Amish. Having worked in the ML industry for a decade, the idea of buying anything "AI-driven' where a simple mechanical / manual option exists leaves me shuddering. Never mind autopilots and other "mission critical" systems: The first thing I did after buying our home was to rip out all the "smart home" features, and replace them by manual thermometers and switches. Year after year, I feel sorry hearing our neighbours moan about their "smart homes".