In the past decade, the tech world has witnessed its fair share of evangelists—those who champion revolutionary technologies, promising to change the world. First, it was the blockchain and Web3 movement, touting the dawn of a decentralized future. Now, it’s artificial intelligence (AI), a field evolving at breakneck speed, with its advocates either touting it as the end-all solution to every problem or sounding alarm bells over its potential for destruction.

But there’s a critical distinction between how these evangelists communicate. AI evangelists, especially in the last few years, have leaned towards extremes—either as doomers predicting catastrophic outcomes or hyper-optimists seeing AI as humanity’s salvation. This narrative intensity is alienating for many people, making AI seem more like a future science fiction scenario rather than an immediate and impactful tool. In contrast, blockchain/Web3 evangelists, while occasionally prone to over-promising, largely emphasized ideals of freedom, privacy, and financial decentralization—a more hopeful, if sometimes vague, vision of the future.

The irony in all this is that while blockchain's potential has been slow to materialize, AI has already had a massive and measurable impact on industries, economies, and even personal lives. Yet, the communication strategies of AI proponents often obscure this reality, making it easy to dismiss the technology as either too dangerous or too futuristic.

The Blockchain Hype vs. AI’s Reality

Blockchain evangelism often felt like a dream half-built. Early proponents spoke of a decentralized internet, one free from the control of corporations and centralized entities. They promised a world where individuals could truly own their data and financial systems would be transparent and accessible to all. It was, in theory, a utopia of independence and power redistribution. The problem? That utopia has largely remained theoretical. Years after its initial hype, blockchain’s biggest contributions, like cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), have struggled to go mainstream or prove their broader utility.

In contrast, AI’s journey has been the opposite. From image generation and natural language processing to predictive algorithms and automation, AI has embedded itself into the fabric of daily life without many even realizing it. Whether it's recommendation engines on Netflix, fraud detection systems in banks, or diagnostic tools in healthcare, AI is already transforming industries. While blockchain waited for use cases to catch up with its philosophy, AI’s use cases exploded in every direction, leaving the philosophical debates trailing behind.

The Doomerism Trap

So why does AI feel so polarizing? A significant part of this is due to the nature of AI evangelism itself. With figures like Elon Musk warning of AI's potential to "destroy civilization" and organizations pushing for regulations against the "existential risks" of AI, the narrative around artificial intelligence often veers into doomsday territory. While concerns about AI safety are valid, this hyper-focus on AI as an uncontrollable force often turns people off. It paints a picture of technology as something to fear rather than embrace.

At the other extreme, hyper-optimists claim AI will solve all problems, from climate change to world hunger, with little attention to its current limitations or the complex challenges that remain. This "silver bullet" mentality makes AI seem distant and detached from the real, incremental progress that is already happening.

Blockchain never had this problem. Evangelists framed it as empowering and liberating, rarely speaking in terms of existential threats. Even if the technology's promises were overstated, the message was at least aspirational, drawing people in rather than scaring them away. The Web3 community built a narrative around personal control, freedom, and a better digital society—ideas that resonated with many.

What AI evangelists often miss in their doomsday warnings or utopian visions is the tangible, present-day value AI is already providing. Unlike blockchain, where practical applications still feel niche or speculative, AI's influence is clear, whether in helping businesses optimize supply chains, allowing doctors to make faster and more accurate diagnoses, or enabling more personalized education through adaptive learning tools. AI is already making people’s lives easier, saving companies millions, and revolutionizing sectors like finance, healthcare, and entertainment.

This distinction is crucial. Blockchain has always been about potential—a potential future decentralized world. But AI, whether you’re a doomer or a hyper-optimist, is affecting industries and lives right now. In a way, blockchain was lucky—its biggest challenge was over-promising a utopian vision that didn’t materialize quickly. AI faces the opposite challenge: it has delivered beyond expectations but is constantly framed as either an existential risk or a panacea, making it harder for people to see and appreciate its current utility.

The Path Forward

To win over a skeptical public, AI evangelists need to step back from the extremes. AI is neither the apocalypse nor a one-size-fits-all solution to humanity’s problems. It’s a tool—a powerful one—that’s already improving lives and transforming industries in meaningful ways. Instead of framing it as an existential crisis or a futuristic miracle, AI evangelists need to focus on the real, everyday impact AI is having right now.

By learning from the missteps of blockchain evangelism—promising too much too soon—and avoiding the current trap of apocalyptic doom, AI evangelists can present a more balanced, grounded perspective. If AI evangelists focus on how the technology is already here and making a difference, they stand a better chance of keeping the public engaged and excited about its potential without scaring them away.

In the end, AI has proven itself far more effective and transformative in the short term than blockchain ever did. The next challenge is getting people to see that without all the noise.

About Me: 25+ year IT veteran combining data, AI, risk management, strategy, and education. 4x hackathon winner and social impact from data advocate. Currently working to jumpstart the AI workforce in the Philippines. Learn more about me here: https://docligot.com