A recent Om article describes how a new “announcement economy” has emerged around artificial intelligence, where the speed and spectacle of big headlines often matter more than substance or actual progress. The author argues that companies like OpenAI — and their partners — thrive by rapidly releasing splashy press releases and massive figures, capturing attention and shaping narratives even when the underlying deals are non-binding or far from reality. In this environment, velocity — how fast a story circulates — can outweigh accuracy and detail, creating momentum that drives headlines, stock moves and public perception.
A central example discussed is the much-publicized $100 billion prospective partnership between OpenAI and NVIDIA, which was widely reported as a major investment but in fact originated as a letter of intent rather than a finalized agreement. Headlines about the potential deal sparked broad media coverage and market reactions long before any binding commitments were made, illustrating how announcement effects can eclipse substance.
The article further points out that this pattern appears across many high-profile AI announcements — from trillion-dollar infrastructure plans to multi-billion-dollar funding rounds — where the headline figures and narrative impact often bear little relation to the concrete financial commitments or timelines involved. These announcements help firms shape narratives about dominance, future growth, and competitive positioning far more effectively than measured, detail-oriented disclosures.
Overall, the piece suggests that observers should practise caution and critical thinking when interpreting AI-related news, recognizing that media velocity can distort impressions of progress and value. Rather than assuming that every megadeal represents a real shift in resources or capabilities, analysts and the public would benefit from digging deeper into the nature of these announcements — distinguishing hype and signalling from actual economic substance.
