Metaverse lol, yes.

The 'AI' label is being slapped onto many things that are not intelligent in any genuine sense, and so it's meaning is being lost. 'Machine Learning' is my preference. Or when referring to specific software, I'll try using a more accurate term, like 'image model' or 'latent diffusion system' for Stable Diffusion; 'language model' for the GPTs. I think it's more honest and realistic.

Many of these systems are quite interesting, yes, but intelligent? No. I don't think so.

The term 'Artificial Intelligence' is great marketing though. The connection to all those fictional works, cinematic or otherwise (like you mention) generates intrigue and unease and we all tend to pay attention to things that we fear.