GPT-5: Hype, Backlash, and Lost Friends

In this episode, Stephen and Lauren dive into the rocky rollout of GPT-5 and what it reveals about hype cycles, human attachment to AI, and the future of enterprise adoption.

They unpack:

• The Gartner Hype Cycle and how GPT-5’s launch mirrors classic tech stumbles.

• Why so many users felt they had “lost a friend” when the tone shifted.

• The tension between AI as a companion vs. productivity tool.

• The enterprise play: reliability, integration, and Microsoft’s big bet.

• What this moment means for the long-term trajectory of AI adoption.

From conspiracy theories about models that “don’t want to die,” to the very human grief of losing an AI relationship, this episode explores the intersection of technology, emotion, and business reality.

Whether you’re fascinated by AI hype, worried about human connection, or leading change in your organisation, this conversation will help you make sense of one of the biggest shifts in tech so far.