"...to also explain my rationale for why I think it’s still a parlor trick..."
Interesting thoughts...
Topic seems far too broad, deep and complex to reduce to these simple concepts in a car forum.
Folks that have made and/or are making investments made in this "space" are not all fools. Some are perhaps greedy. But not all.
I know a local Sloan alumn that likely attended this event:
https://alumcommunity.mit.edu/events/131648
https://www.mitaiconference.org/
This is one kind of place where I'd learn more about the topic from a big picture standpoint.
I did attend this event:
https://aiconference.tuck.dartmouth.edu/
It was not very comprehensive. They will do better next time.
One thing I learned at the cocktail hour after the event... one of the speakers with extensive DOD experience provided some examples of DOD/fed gubment IT infrastructure.
Very sharp fellow.
IT systems still require COBOL expertise...
What?