Data on AI-related Show HN posts

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Comparison to Previous Tech Hype Cycles

  • Several comments compare the AI wave to past fads: map-reduce, blockchain, quantum computing, crypto, and even the Segway.
  • Some argue AI is different: already widely useful and revenue-generating, unlike earlier “seismic” promises that mostly fizzled.
  • Others say the pattern is similar to gold rushes and crypto: huge VC-driven hype, with many thin products just wrapping existing APIs.

How Much of HN Is Actually About AI?

  • The post’s method (simple keyword filter: “AI”, “GPT”, “.ai”, etc.) is criticized as too crude and heavily undercounting real AI posts, especially those without explicit buzzwords.
  • Multiple users report their own spot-checks (front page, shownew) suggesting closer to ~1/3 AI-related at times, not 1/5.
  • There’s interest in comparing this to past waves (crypto/NFTs, blockchain, Rust/Go) using consistent search data; some ad-hoc counts show AI/LLM dwarfs crypto-related Show HNs.

Community Reactions: Excitement vs Exhaustion

  • Enthusiasts see AI/LLMs as a genuine paradigm shift and “most fun since learning to build websites,” especially for rapid prototyping and code assistance.
  • Skeptics and “AI doomers” (in the loose sense of being pessimistic, not necessarily extinction-focused) describe HN as oversaturated, repetitive, and less interesting, leading some to visit less or disengage entirely.
  • There’s nostalgia for “real hacker” content and a feeling that HN has drifted toward valley drama, product launches, and AI marketing.

Filtering, Tools, and Meta-Discussion

  • Multiple users describe practical filters: browser extensions, uBlock rules, RSS keyword filters, or custom viewers that hide AI/LLM content.
  • Some suggest using AI itself to classify and filter out AI hype.
  • Concerns arise about moderation/flagging bias, especially for critical AI stories, and about karma-based flagging being easily abused.
  • Several worry that meta-debates about what HN “should be” rarely end well for communities.

Broader Social and Ethical Concerns

  • Comments touch on overwork and the appeal of AI as a timesaver, but doubt that society will use it to create a “post-work utopia.”
  • Ethical worries include copyright violations, corporate capture of humanity’s knowledge, and the influence of massive AI investment on discourse and moderation.