Why people really hate AI | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Why people really hate AIComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...PodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AITechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechWhy people really hate AIOn The Vergecast: AI apps we really want, the future of foldables, and the DLSS 5 backlash.On The Vergecast: AI apps we really want, the future of foldables, and the DLSS 5 backlash.by David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceMar 20, 2026, 1:27 PM UTCLinkShareGiftDavid PierceCloseDavid PiercePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David Pierce is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.There’s a big, and increasing, disconnect in culture right now when it comes to artificial intelligence. Companies of all shapes and sizes are hunting for places to deploy AI and can’t stop talking about how this new technology will change everything. But when you ask people about AI, the consistent response is: no thanks. Study after study shows people are worried about the effects of AI and simply don’t find the technology worth all the downsides.Verge subscribers, don’t forget you get exclusive access to ad-free Vergecast wherever you get your podcasts. Head here. Not a subscriber? You can sign up here.On this episode of The Vergecast, David and Nilay try to understand the AI gap. No matter what you’ve heard, it’s not the water worries that are keeping AI from succeeding. Nor is it the supposedly “doomer” CEOs. The problem, we think, is simpler than all that. AI may be interesting, valuable business software, and it may make writing code easier than ever. But we are still without a truly game-changing use case for AI — at least, one people are willing to pay for.After that, The Verge’s Allison Johnson joins the show with a suddenly in-demand device, the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold. Allison has spent months trying to get one of these phones, only to have Samsung discontinue the device this week. She takes us through her journey with the phone and helps us figure out what’s next for foldables, if anything.Finally, in the lightning round, it’s time for another round of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, DLSS 5, the latest news on the metaverse, and some unfortunate news about a couple of viral stories on social media.

If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started, first on AI:OpenAI cuts back on “side quests.”Signalsandnoise on TikTokFrom NBC News: Poll: Majority of voters say risks of AI outweigh the benefitsFrom Pew: How Americans View AI and Its Impact on Human Abilities, SocietyAnd in foldable phones:PSA: Don’t buy a $4,400 gray market Samsung TriFold on eBaySamsung discontinues its Galaxy Z TriFold after just three months Oppo’s nearly creaseless foldable isn’t launching in Europe after all From last year: Just look at Huawei’s trifold phoneAnd in the lightning round:Brendan Carr’s tweet threatening broadcasters about war coverageJensen Huang, on the critical reaction to DLSS 5: “Well, first of all, they’re completely wrong.”DLSS 5 looks like a real-time generative AI filter for video games Nvidia has lost the plot with gamersMeta is actually keeping its VR metaverse running, for nowThis is not a fly uploaded to a computerChatGPT did not cure a dog’s cancerFollow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AIPodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsSamsungCloseSamsungPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All SamsungTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechVergecastCloseVergecastPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All VergecastMost PopularMost PopularBelkin’s wireless HDMI adapter freed me from a long annoying cable when I travelMarc Andreessen is a philosophical zombieValve’s huge SteamOS 3.8 update adds long-awaited features — and supports Steam MachineA rogue AI led to a serious security incident at MetaCasio’s new $600 calculator is a work of artThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in PodcastsPlayParamount’s $110 billion Warner Bros. gambleThe future of code is exciting and terrifyingPlayYahoo CEO Jim Lanzone on reviving the web’s homepageThe fast rise and epic fall of ClubhouseThe MacBook Neo is a winnerPlayAnthropic doesn’t trust the Pentagon, and neither should youPlayParamount’s $110 billion Warner Bros. gambleNilay PatelMar 19The future of code is exciting and terrifyingDavid PierceMar 17PlayYahoo CEO Jim Lanzone on reviving the web’s homepageNilay PatelMar 16The fast rise and epic fall of ClubhouseDavid PierceMar 15The MacBook Neo is a winnerDavid PierceMar 13PlayAnthropic doesn’t trust the Pentagon, and neither should youNilay PatelMar 12Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop Stories2:00 PM UTCMuch ado about proteinTwo hours agoGoogle Search is now using AI to replace headlinesMar 19Marc Andreessen is a philosophical zombieMar 19Prediction markets are trying to lure journalists with partnership dealsMar 19Paid streaming for cheapskates is having a moment5 minutes agoSamsung’s Galaxy S26 will support AirDrop.The VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2026 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved

The Verge’s article, “Why People Really Hate AI,” explores the growing public skepticism and apprehension surrounding the rapid advancement and deployment of artificial intelligence technologies. The core argument, presented primarily through David Pierce’s perspective as editor-at-large and co-host of “The Vergecast,” centers on a perceived disconnect between the breathless enthusiasm of tech companies and the actual utility and acceptance of AI among the general population. Pierce contends that despite claims of transformative potential, AI currently lacks a compelling “killer app”—a genuinely valuable and readily adopted use case capable of justifying the associated concerns and downsides.

The article highlights several key reasons driving this resistance. Firstly, there’s a widespread lack of trust, fueled by anxieties regarding job displacement, potential misuse of the technology, and broader societal implications of increasing automation. Secondly, public sentiment is shaped by a perceived overhyping of AI’s capabilities, with many individuals recognizing that current AI systems often deliver outputs that are less sophisticated and reliable than advertised. This disconnect is further exacerbated by the absence of a clear, consumer-facing application that genuinely simplifies or enhances daily life in a way that outweighs the apprehension surrounding its development and deployment. Pierce emphasizes that companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, while pioneering in AI research, have yet to produce a product that achieves widespread adoption, citing concerns around excessive data collection and algorithmic bias as further deterrents.

The piece expands on this core argument through a discussion of specific examples, including Samsung’s discontinued Galaxy Z TriFold phone, illustrating how early excitement around novel technologies can quickly fade due to practical limitations and high price points. The narrative also incorporates insights from various studies and polls demonstrating that a substantial portion of the public views the risks of AI as outweighing its benefits, indicating a significant gap between technological optimism and public perception. Furthermore, the inclusion of links to relevant research from organizations like Pew and NBC News underscores the breadth and depth of the concerns surrounding AI’s impact on society, from workforce dynamics to ethical considerations.

The “Vergecast” episode itself, featuring Allison Johnson’s investigation into the TriFold debacle and Brendan Carr’s commentary on related issues such as the potential impact of AI on media, adds further nuance to the discussion. Ultimately, Pierce’s argument suggests that the failure of AI to gain widespread acceptance isn't solely due to “doomer” CEOs or technical limitations, but rather a fundamental lack of a compelling value proposition for the average user. The article concludes by reinforcing this point, suggesting that until AI can demonstrably deliver tangible benefits to a wider audience, its trajectory will likely remain constrained by public skepticism and concern.