“The Wizard” of AI

Abstract

When the history of the United States in 2025 is written, it is likely to go down as the year when the hype around AI reached a fever pitch and the beginning of a fundamental shift in how businesses approach task assignment and staffing. Many CEOs are spending millions of dollars investing in AI tools while enacting mass layoffs under the impression that thousands of humans are no longer needed as AI will fulfill many roles faster and more efficiently. In the tech industry, I have observed that the remaining employees tend to express an almost rabid enthusiasm for rapid AI adoption as their path to promotion. Or, they are careful to conceal their concerns behind a veneer of support for fear of being perceived as an obstacle to a profitable future. How do anthropologists in business break through the façade to educate others on the limits of AI’s capabilities and the risks, ethical concerns, and appropriate use cases, while still keeping their jobs? Or should they bother? After all, in the US, we are reaching a critical inflection point for anthropology as a discipline, as it is targeted by the current administration for its support of diversity and equality. This essay explores the dilemma facing anthropologists across industries as their employers forge ahead with AI adoption, often without careful consideration of the pros and cons. I offer strategies for navigating the complexities of AI hype while doing in-house evaluation of these tools based on my experience working in the tech industry.