There is a particular kind of madness that visits human civilisations every few centuries. It visited us during the dot-com frenzy of the late 90s, and it is visiting us now — dressed in a sharp blazer, carrying a pitch deck, and calling itself Artificial Intelligence.

Walk into any boardroom today. Sit through any investor call. Scroll through any LinkedIn feed. The word "AI" has become less of a technology descriptor and more of a survival incantation. Stamp it on your company, and doors open. Forget to mention it, and you are already yesterday's business. Every second startup claims to be an AI company the way every second person in the 2000s claimed to be a dot-com........

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