A big difference is that in the past things like the potential of the PC were somewhat widely underestimated. And then the internet was again as well.

But in modern times it's rather the opposite scenario. The average entity is diving head first into AI simply expecting a revolutionary jump in capability that a more 'informed', for lack of any less snooty term, perspective would suggest is quite unlikely to occur anytime in the foreseeable future. Basically we have a modern day gold rush where companies and taking out unbelievably massive loans to invest in shovels.

The only way this doesn't catastrophically blow up is if AI companies manage to convince the government they're too big to fail, and get the Boeing, Banks, et al treatment. And I expect that's exactly the current strategy, but that's rather a high risk, low reward, type strategy.