Hype Cycle

Noun · Hacker Culture

Definitions

  1. A model popularized by Gartner describing how new technologies move from inflated expectations to disillusionment and eventually toward productive use. In broader tech culture, the phrase is used to critique boom-bust enthusiasm around trends.

    In plain English: The pattern where new technologies get overhyped, disappoint people, and later settle into realistic use.

    Example: "Generative AI is still somewhere in the messy middle of the hype cycle."

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