AI’s Rise in Popularity

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has recently become the talk of the town, hitting record search interest levels worldwide. In May 2023, Google Trends reported an impressive search score of 89 for AI, just shy of lit matches compared to Bitcoin’s tippy-top score of 100 back in December 2017. While Bitcoin was making headlines for dramatic price increases, AI enthusiasts now claim their time has come—again!

The Hype Train: AI vs. Bitcoin

Mark Schilsky, a tech guru from Alliance Bernstein, highlighted that AI’s current popularity is like a beautiful sunset compared to Bitcoin’s full-blown party. Despite AI being a hot topic, it hasn’t reached the stratospheric hype levels Bitcoin achieved during its wild, wallet-emptying ride in 2017. So, is AI the new Bitcoin? Or just a temporary trend with a catchy name?

The Global Perspective

When we step onto the international stage, particularly in China, things take quite a twist. In China, where cryptocurrency is more taboo than pineapple on pizza, AI has always held the spotlight in search interest, markedly eclipsing Bitcoin’s fame. Since 2013, AI searches have had consistently better results than Bitcoin searches, except during three notable moments of Bitcoin’s rise and shine.

China’s Search Drama

The first time Bitcoin overtook AI in China was in November 2013, when it peaked around $300. Then came December 2017—Bitcoin once again attracted attention as it reached new heights, and then by February 2021, when BTC was hovering over $43,000, thanks to Tesla’s big investment.

• 2013: Bitcoin peaks at $300
• 2017: Bitcoin soars to $20,000
• 2021: Tesla’s influence sends Bitcoin to $43,000

The Current AI Explosion

If you’re still skeptical about AI’s potential, let me reassure you: In April 2023, China saw a massive spike in AI search interest, registering an all-time high of 100. Meanwhile, they’re gunning for the future with homegrown AI systems, like the ‘Spark Model’ that’s designed to compete directly with ChatGPT.

Political Ramifications

Of course, it’s not all rainbows and sunshine as Chinese officials hold meetings about the necessity to manage AI and data security. Their concerns seem less about creating cool applications and more about avoiding a political storm. As they say, with great power comes great responsibility—or, in their case, a rigorous governmental oversight.

Conclusion

So, while AI may not have yet tapped the whiskey bottle and danced on tables like Bitcoin did during its heyday, its trajectory is nothing short of fascinating. As we continue to explore these tech frontiers, perhaps the question isn’t whether AI can usurp Bitcoin’s title, but instead—how can both coexist in this ever-evolving tech saga?