That’s a sharp take, and I think many would agree that the hype around AGI is often exaggerated for ideological, political, and economic reasons. The gap between "impressive automation" and "true general intelligence" is vast, but narratives of AGI dominance serve as powerful tools—whether for justifying regulatory capture, controlling public perception, or simply attracting investment.

The Wizard of Oz analogy is perfect. The spectacle is grand, but behind the curtain, it's still just a bunch of humans pulling the levers, often for their own benefit. Meanwhile, the real concerns—economic displacement, centralized AI power, and surveillance—get sidelined in favor of utopian or dystopian fantasies.