By August 2025, AI had become unavoidable in media—with over **2,100 AI-related headlines in a single day**, up from just nine in 2015. Coverage spans everything from farming and medical diagnostics to fake news, creative theft, fraud, and environmental impacts. A Gallup poll shows a polarized American response: 49 % view AI as beneficial, while another 49 % see it as a threat. Meanwhile, 64 % plan to avoid using AI whenever possible. There’s growing frustration with shallow AI reporting, alarmist narratives, and disconnection between hype and public understanding. A thoughtful analysis of media saturation, public distrust, and how to separate hype from real AI value could attract readers cautious about technology.