Sandwich shop's IPO reveals just how far AI hype has gone

The AI frenzy has reached a new level: a sandwich chain that features Danny DeVito as its face now feels compelled to sprinkle AI buzzwords into its IPO documents. Jersey Mike's, in its S-1 filing, uses the term "artificial intelligence" or "AI" 22 times, even though it sells submarine sandwiches, not software.

The company includes AI in its risk factor section, stating, "We are beginning to use AI Technologies in our business," without specifying what for. This mirrors a broader trend where companies not focused on AI, like Bending Spoons (which revitalizes aging tech firms), add AI references to attract investor interest.

The author notes that the actual risk of an AI-related disaster for a sandwich shop is comparable to a lightning strike at a franchise location—which actually happened in Texas in 2021. Yet weather is mentioned only five times in the S-1, and lightning not at all. This contrast underscores how AI hype has permeated even the most conventional business filings.