How to Read the Hype Gap
Separate AI substance from marketing spin using Hype Gap analysis.
Understand the Components
Hype Gap = Hype Score - Reality Score📢 Hype Score (0-100)
Measures marketing and self-promotion:
- • Company blog posts
- • Press releases
- • Executive statements
- • Buzzword frequency
- • Vague future promises
⚙️ Reality Score (0-100)
Measures actual deliverables:
- • GitHub activity
- • Research papers (arXiv)
- • Product demos
- • Developer feedback
- • Community discussions
Interpret the Number
Negative Gap (-5 or lower)
Interpretation: Under-promises, over-delivers. Rare but excellent signal.
Example: Company with Reality Score of 85 and Hype Score of 75 = -10 gap. They ship more than they promise.
✓ Find these companies at /lists/hidden-gems
Low Gap (0 to +5)
Interpretation: Honest messaging. Marketing aligns with reality.
Example: Company with Hype Score of 70 and Reality Score of 67 = +3 gap. Balanced communication.
✓ See honest companies at /lists/most-honest
Moderate Gap (+5 to +10)
Interpretation: Slight exaggeration. Normal marketing spin.
Example: Company with Hype Score of 75 and Reality Score of 67 = +8 gap. Minor overstatement but still delivering.
High Gap (+10 to +20)
Interpretation: Moderate overhype. Proceed with caution.
Example: Company with Hype Score of 80 and Reality Score of 65 = +15 gap. Marketing outpacing delivery.
Extreme Gap (+20 or higher)
Interpretation: Extreme overhype. Marketing far exceeds substance.
Example: Company with Hype Score of 90 and Reality Score of 65 = +25 gap. All talk, limited action.
⚠ See overhyped companies at /lists/most-overhyped
Check the Trend
The absolute Hype Gap number is important, but the trend over time reveals even more about a company's trajectory.
✅ Decreasing Gap (Positive Signal)
Hype and reality are converging. Company is delivering on promises.
Example: Gap went from +15 to +8 over 30 days → Marketing becoming more honest OR deliverables increasing
➖ Stable Gap (Neutral Signal)
Gap staying consistent. Marketing and delivery in equilibrium.
Example: Gap stayed at +10 for 60 days → Consistent messaging and delivery pace
❌ Increasing Gap (Warning Signal)
Hype is outpacing delivery. Marketing promises exceeding actual progress.
Example: Gap went from +8 to +20 over 30 days → Ramping up marketing without shipping product
Compare to Peers
Context matters. A Hype Gap of +10 might be excellent in one industry and concerning in another.
How to Compare:
- Same category: Compare AI infrastructure companies to each other, not to generative AI
- Similar stage: Compare startups to startups, established players to established players
- Relative ranking: A company with +12 gap in a category where average is +18 is doing well
Pro Tip: Use the comparison tool to see Hype Gaps side-by-side for any two companies.