This article first appeared in The Algorithm, our weekly AI newsletter. If you want to receive stories like this directly in your inbox, sign up here. Back in February, I stumbled upon a flyer during an anti-AI demonstration in London. While it's unclear if the authors intended to reference the infamous underpants gnomes from South Park, the message resonates with the ongoing discourse about the disparity between AI's hype and its actual financial benefits. As various industries explore the potential of artificial intelligence, understanding the crucial steps needed to convert excitement into tangible profits remains a hot topic of discussion.