AI – hype or here today?

Gartner has a tool known as the "hype cycle." It shows where a technology stands on a curve that represents the lifecycle of that technology -- including the peak of its "hype," or inflated expectations, followed by the low point of missed expectations, or the "trough of disillusionment." The lifecycle finally ends as the technology achieves what they refer to as the "plateau of productivity." AI is currently at the top of this hype cycle, discussed in every tech news cycle and mentioned with predictions of dire consequences from some of the greatest minds today. So, the question I'm sometimes asked is, "Why now?" Aren't we headed toward that "trough of disillusionment" where we realize that Siri won't cook dinner and Alexa won't take out the trash next week like we'd hoped?