The AI backlash is only getting started
The article argues that disillusionment with artificial intelligence is deepening as high costs, unmet promises, and safety concerns mount. Despite massive investment, many AI applications have yet to deliver transformative results, fueling a growing backlash among businesses, regulators, and the public. This skepticism is expected to intensify in the coming years.
Background
The Economist is a centrist, London-based weekly magazine widely read by global business and policy elites, and its leader (unsigned editorial) pieces signal opinion among that establishment. By mid-2026, the initial wave of enthusiasm for generative AI (tools like ChatGPT, launched late 2022) has soured in many quarters.