AI Startups are multiplying like mushrooms after rain, and just as many are poisonous. Behind every “transformative AI solution” is often a glorified ChatGPT prompt wrapped in venture-funded buzzwords. At TechScoopIndia we’re pro-technology, but we’re calling bullshit on the rising tide of fake innovation. So lets take a look at some of these “AI” companies that provide innovative solutions:

Copy.ai:

  • What does it do? Generates marketing copy using GPT style models.
  • Reality: It’s just templating at scale. What agencies have been doing forever…
  • Funding: Estimated: $14 million.
  • Website: Copy.ai

Jasper AI:

  • What does it do? Blog and social media generation for marketers.
  • Reality: Slightly smarter auto-fill. Most users just prompt it to write, then rewrite it themselves.
  • Funding: Estimated: $125 million.  
  • Website: JasperAI

Synthesia:

  • What does it do? Creates talking head videos with AI avatars.
  • Reality: Powerpoint meets a greenscreen with a bit of AI lipsync.
  • Funding: Estimated: $150 million.
  • Website: Synthesia

Miko AI:

  • What does it do? A toy robot that “talks” to kids.
  • Reality: It is a glorified chatbot in a cheap plastic shell.
  • Funding: Estimated: $50 million.
  • Website: Miko AI

Smart Fridges: (LG, Samsung etc)

  • What does it do? Fridge that “uses AI” to detect what’s inside and make grocery suggestions.
  • Reality: Fridge with a camera and a screen, AI barely adds value and often fails to identify items correctly.
  • Funding: Unknown (These companies spend billions a year on R&D so we can just assume a lot)
  • Website: Samsung Smart Fridges
AI Smart Fridge

AI Toothbrushes (Oral-B iO, Colgate Hum)

  • What does it do? Toothbrush that “uses AI” to help you brush better.
  • Reality: Simple motion tracking + app feedback.
  • Funding: Unknown (These companies spend billions a year on R&D so we can just assume a lot)
  • Website: Oral-B IO
Photo of the Oral-B iO toothbrush, is it really needed?

That is just an overview of the AI companies that are out there hoovering up VC dollars and providing no real value to consumers. Not everything in this world needs to be AI, and the sooner people realize this the better. Why do we need an AI agent to tell us how to brush our teeth? Are people that helpless? Why do we need an AI agent to check what’s in our fridge, are eyes no longer a thing?

Why are we letting our kids talk to GPT wrappers disguised as toys? Is that not just creepy? Why can’t kids talk to each other, we should not encourage kids to replace social interactions with GPT wrappers, as that is just a recipe for disaster and therapy bills in the future.

So… What’s the point of this article? We wrote this article to spread awareness of the AI tools being produced at the moment, that are hoovering up VC dollars without providing any real value to consumers. There are brilliant startups out there that are being ignored because they aren’t ramming AI down our throats. VC’s need to fund logical businesses that provide value to consumers, not just pump up businesses because they’re glossy, contain all the buzz words and have a sexy pitch deck.

Tech Hubs are drowning in a polluted sea of AI wrappers. We’re not anti-tech, we’re anti-bullshit. Consumers don’t need an AI to brush their teeth, or read their fridge. They need products that solve real problems. Until then don’t believe the hype, and stop writing checks just because someone says “AI”.

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