There are plenty of academics who literally state all sorts of utter nincompoopery.
You are correct about that, but AI isn’t one of those subjects. AI is technology and it’s here already. The “smart home” is considered hip and cool and is literally a dang robot system controlling everything from your thermostat to your coffee maker in the house. Home Security system, phone, computer, lights, tv’s, oven, stove-top. You name it, it’s controlled by AI if you’ve got the Nest/Alexa systems.
20 years ago, who’d have thought you could hold a computer in the palm of your hand. Now, that same computer listens to you and sends you nice little ads based on what you’ve said to promote products & services.