AI Snake Oil

AI Snake Oil is a critical analysis of artificial intelligence hype and the gap between AI's actual capabilities and its popular perception. Narayanan and Kapoor argue that machine learning is frequently oversold, misapplied, and deployed in contexts where it cannot deliver promised results. The book examines case studies across criminal justice, hiring, education, and other domains where AI systems have failed or caused harm despite inflated expectations.

The authors contend that much of the AI industry relies on "snake oil" marketing—making exaggerated claims about what machine learning can achieve. They provide technical grounding for why certain AI applications are fundamentally flawed, while also critiquing the broader culture of AI evangelism. The work serves as a counterweight to techno-optimism, offering practical guidance on when AI is genuinely useful versus when it is merely fashionable.