Then we are completely on the same page! I actually mentioned earlier in our thread that I hate the notion of calling these specific, highly useful operations 'AI' for exactly the reasons you just laid out.

My previous replies were just looking at it through a strict, literal computer science taxonomy lens. But my original comment literally points out the very things you bring up.

We're fighting an uphill battle with the vast marketing hype and it's good that you can understand the nuanced difference between all the things that have gotten rebranded AI. My point isn't to try and use past technology as a way to validate what the techbros are doing but to highlight how muddy the waters have become.

I closed out my original comment with a hope that perhaps the more utility based work that's had solid proof of usefulness doesn't get tossed out with the bathwater so to say.

Again, I'm not apologetic of what has come from that hard work, more lamenting that everything has become the fuzzy mess it is.

By all means, head back to my original comment and let me know if there's any part where I've come off indicating embracing this thing that I would say you and I agree with.