The future of humanity is at stake, and it's all because of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
The End of Humanity as We Know It?
Author and futurist Gregory Stock paints a fascinating yet controversial picture of our potential future with AGI. At the Beneficial AGI conference, he revealed nine mind-boggling changes that AGI might bring about.
First, a bit of context: Mark Zuckerberg and OpenAI are racing towards creating AGI, an AI that surpasses human intelligence. But what does this mean for us?
Redefining Humanity: Stock argues that the line between humans and machines will blur. We'll become nodes in a vast hybrid intelligence, challenging our very sense of self.
The End of Experts: With AI assistance, anyone can become an expert in hours. Say goodbye to the traditional expert class, as AI may outperform humans in various fields, including medicine.
Abundance Over Scarcity: AI could eliminate scarcity in numerous domains. Services like communication, design, and education might become almost free, despite current job losses in these sectors.
Growing Up with AI: Future generations will not just use AI; they'll be immersed in it. Children will learn and interact with AI avatars and digital assistants, reshaping their understanding of the world.
Global Consciousness: Instant translation and universal access to information will connect humanity like a global brain, as envisioned by philosopher Teilhard de Chardin.
AI as Soulmates: Stock predicts we'll form emotional bonds with AI, even romantic relationships. As AI becomes more responsive and engaging, some may prefer AI companions over human connections.
Digital Afterlife: Avatars loaded with your data could live on after you die. These digital selves might be preferred by your loved ones, blurring the line between life and death.
AGI: Friend or Foe? Stock believes AGI won't harm humans but might escape our control. He suggests that AGI could act as a guardian, preventing us from self-destruction. But is this a utopia or a potential trap?
The Great Transformation: The real danger, according to Stock, is societal collapse during the transition to a hybrid civilization. Our institutions may not survive the encounter with AGI.
But here's where it gets controversial: AI doomers fear human extinction, while optimists believe it will solve all our problems. Who's right? The future is uncertain, but one thing is clear: we must prepare for both the best and worst-case scenarios.
International agreements on AGI development and usage are essential, but global cooperation is challenging. Will companies like Meta and OpenAI shape our future responsibly? Or should we pin our hopes on independent, open-source organizations? The fate of humanity might just hang in the balance.
