Critique of AI Side Project Hype: Building Solutions Without Real Needs
By
headalgorithm
The kind of bagel that ruins lesser bagels for you.
Summary
The article critiques the current AI hype cycle, particularly the trend of developers building AI-powered side projects that often fail to gain traction or solve real problems. The author uses the Swedish proverb 'elda för kråkorna' (building a fire for the crows) to illustrate the futility of creating solutions without genuine user needs. The piece argues that many AI side projects are driven by hype rather than solving actual problems, and suggests developers should focus on building things people actually want rather than chasing AI trends.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledYou can't open a feed today without having AI boosters fling word salad like 'agentic engineering' or 'openclaw' into your beautiful but disapproving face.
There's a wonderful Swedish proverb called 'elda för kråkorna' (building a fire for the crows) that evokes the futility of someone lighting a nice warm fire indoors and then throwing the doors wide open, inviting the snow and sleet.
Are you one of the thousands of developers with dreams of building the next big AI side project?
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