$1.5b A.I. unicorn, nothing more than a $1 scruffy goat! The Collapse of Builder A.I.: A Stark Reminder in the Age of “Fake” A.I. Tools!

Once hailed as a revolutionary force in artificial intelligence, Builder A.I. was recently valued in the billions. Today, that valuation has crumbled as it’s come to light that the company’s offerings were largely smoke and mirrors. Behind the glossy marketing and lofty promises was a product that, by many accounts, failed to deliver real A.I. capability—leading many to label it as “fake A.I.”

Builder A.I. isn’t an isolated case. The tech landscape is awash with tools claiming to be powered by cutting-edge artificial intelligence, yet many of them fall short of delivering tangible value. The term “A.I.” has been stretched to cover everything from simple automation scripts to glorified spreadsheets, often masking the lack of true innovation or capability.

Having worked with a wide range of organizations over the years—both in developing and adopting various software platforms, including those branded as A.I.—I’ve seen this play out repeatedly. While these tools can be useful in supporting operational efficiency or decision-making, they’re far from the silver bullets they’re often sold as.

Too many organizations are quick to hang their hat on software solutions, particularly the latest shiny trend like A.I., believing it will solve all their challenges. I’ve said it publicly and online many times: software, including A.I., should be seen as an enabler—not a savior. Success still hinges on people, process, and culture. The human touch remains imperative and irreplaceable.

The collapse of Builder A.I. should be a wake-up call. In the rush to adopt “intelligent” solutions, organizations must remain critical, discerning, and grounded in reality. Hype fades—value endures!

Comments welcomed, as always!

MC