What is Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Why our World Will Never be the Same?

2023 has seen a rapid rise in the development of AI, and it’s been extremely successful. Just a year ago chatbots and LLMs were not particularly popular; in fact, most people wouldn’t have even heard of the term large language models. Yet, in a span of just one year, OpenAI’s ChatGPT exploded in popularity (launched at the end of 2022), Google responded with Bard, Meta is working on LLaMA and Apple is venturing into virtual reality with its Vision Pro. It just so happens these products’ true ability has been revealed this year, but they have been in the works for years. Everything takes time. We have seen such breakthroughs happen in quick succession, but this certainly isn’t the end. So, what’s the next step in development of AI?

Perhaps the ultimate achievement in this field would be the invention of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). This may be the only thing separating humans from ultimate greatness. This article will discuss what AGI is, the potential avenues it will create, our need for it and the ways in which it could change our civilisation.

Content:

• What is AGI?
• Potential abilities of AGI
• The future with AGI
• Our need for general intelligence
• Risks and dangers
• A new world

What is AGI?

The difference between AI and AGI is the G (general). AGI promises to be a form of general intelligence; basically, an AI system that can actually think. To put it into perspective, language models like ChatGPT respond to users based on their training and programming. And that is it. It cannot think like we humans can.

AGI aims to replicate the general cognitive abilities of humans, enabling machines to think, reason, solve problems, and understand the world in a versatile and adaptable manner.

ChatGPT

ChatGPT does not understand the user, it just responds to it. Important to note the difference between responding vs. understanding and then responding. In simple words, AI models do not have feelings, emotions, or any capability to comprehend. They respond purely based on data.

However, AGI promises to be different. Drastically different. This proposed, hypothetical technology is one that possesses the ability to understand, learn, think, reason, solve problems etc. So Artificial General Intelligence, as in the name, is a form of AI that has general intelligence. Of course, this is purely hypothetical as of writing this article, but it certainly isn’t impossible.

Potential Abilities of AGI

If reading about this technology has not yet amazed you, its potential abilities certainly will. According to the definition of AGI in Wikipedia, “AGI could learn to accomplish any intellectual task that human beings or animals can perform”.  That means its basic abilities are like us, homo-sapiens. As this human-like model is only a proposed one, nothing about it is set-in-stone. However, these are the capabilities it is speculated to have:

1). Learning, Application and Creativity: AGI could continuously learn new information and apply this knowledge to various streams. As a result, it could potentially create unique models and systems.

2). Versatility: AGI will not be limited to a specific task. Instead, it will be able to preform all logical tasks humans can, and perhaps more.

3). Reasoning: AGI will have cognitive abilities similar to humans. This includes the ability to reason and comprehend information

These are just a few capabilities it might exhibit. Another one could be sentience. AGI could potentially have a conscience and ability to feel. Making AGI could be compared (to a certain extent) to creating a super-human…

Will AGI change our lives?

With a basic understanding of this proposed technology, it is important to investigate the implications it may have in the future. This all seems surreal to think about, almost like living in a sci-fi movie. But this could soon be our reality. So, how might our lives change with AGI? And would the change be for the better or worse?

I like to think, that in today’s landscape, our lives aren’t significantly different with AI tools than they were in the past. We continue with our day-to-day lives; only difference being that we have access to state-of-the-art AI model. I believe the same cannot be said for a life with AGI in it.

This promised model is extremely intricate and different. Something we have never experienced before. Thus, immediately incorporating it into our lives will certainly instil fear in the community. Fear over human existence and importance. Fear of the future. I strongly believe it will be crucial to release AGI in stages, to allow everyone to familiarise themselves with it.

Let’s discuss the implications in more detail.

Benefits of AGI: Our need for it

As I mentioned earlier, the development of Artificial General Intelligence might be the only thing separating humanity from greatness. This being might help us answer questions we have had for centuries. This being could help us come up with solutions for our seemingly insurmountable problems. From quantum mechanics to the actual speed of light to questions like the existence of aliens, AGI might help us answer them.

Everyone should have an optimism for this technology. Because it really can be life-changing. But, with immense optimism, a pessimistic perspective is also required, because that’s what leads to growth.

Risks of AGI

Have you ever seen or read a sci-fi creation, where robots take over the world? Or a movie in which the entire world fights for AI supremacy? Well, we need to fight to ensure our lives don’t become the plot of these movies. Because that is possible. AGI could threaten our very existence. So, we need to find ways to make sure it doesn’t. This entails strict regulation and most importantly, transparency. In the process of its development, there must be a level of openness. The public must be informed at every stage. If preventative measures aren’t taken, we might become a bit too similar to the characters of those movies…

A new world

Whatever AGI brings, one thing is certain, our lives will not be the same. We need to remember these technologies are for our betterment, and they should not reach a stage where our existence is threatened. A sense of optimism and hope for an improved future is critical. I strongly believe AGI will improve our lives in countless ways (as long as its development is ethical, transparent and strategical).

You and I are in a very unique position today. Believe me when I say, not many people in the world are considering the implications of AI models like chatGPT. They are happy just using these tools. But understanding the impact of them is a different taks, but a one worth embarking upon. Take the opportunity to understand the AI/AGI movement as quickly as you can, becuase you will be one of the few people in the world to do so! I think it is safe to say…

AI has shocked the world. AGI will change it.