Can we solve AI's "deer-in-headlights" problem? (with Dan Miller, founder of Opus Research)

Deep Learning with PolyAI

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The conversational AI market has exploded: ~650 companies, even more tools, and way too many promises. For business leaders, navigating all this can be paralyzing.
In this episode of Deep Learning with PolyAI, your host Nikola Mrkšić sits down with Dan Miller, founder of Opus Research and the analyst who coined the term "conversational commerce," to unpack why the AI ecosystem feels more crowded and confusing than ever.
Dan calls it the “Deer in Headlights” moment: a point where too many choices, too much hype, and too little clarity leave enterprises frozen on the road to AI adoption.
They discuss:

• Why the AI boom has created confusion instead of clarity
• The Botenfreude phenomenon — why people still enjoy watching bots fail
• How most AI “failures” come from poor design, not bad tech
• What it will take for AI vendors to cooperate instead of compete
• Why success now depends on defining clear goals and working together

Dan has been tracking and shaping this space for decades. Watch the full episode to learn how we can move past the “deer in headlights” moment and start driving real progress.

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