Two years ago, OpenAI described artificial general intelligence (AGI), also known as strong AI or human-level AI, as a transformative force that could “uplift humanity” and “provide incredible new capabilities for everyone.” However, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently tempered expectations about AGI’s potential impact.
In a discussion at The New York Times DealBook Summit, Altman suggested that AGI might arrive sooner than most people expect but emphasized its limited impact:
“My guess is that we’ll get to AGI sooner than most people in the world think, and it’s going to matter a lot less. A lot of the safety concerns that we and others have talked about won’t actually arise when AGI is built. AGI can be built. The world after that will be largely the same as it is now. Some things will get faster. But getting from what we call AGI to what we call superintelligence is a very long road.”
From AGI to Superintelligence
This isn’t the first time Altman has downplayed the implications of AGI, a concept once prominently featured in OpenAI’s charter. Previously, OpenAI envisioned AGI as a breakthrough capable of automating much of humanity’s intellectual labor. Recent developments, however, suggest a more pragmatic stance. Altman hinted that AGI could be achievable by 2025 with specialized hardware and software. Yet, speculation persists that OpenAI might simply merge its existing large language models to label the outcome as AGI.
Altman’s remarks further reflected a shift in expectations:
“The economic difficulties in the world are going to last a little longer than people think, because there’s a lot of inertia in society. So in the first couple of years [after the creation of AGI], maybe there won’t be much change. And then maybe there will be a lot of change.”
Superintelligence: The Next Frontier
While OpenAI initially championed AGI as a monumental step, hopes for transformative change now seem focused on achieving “superintelligence,” notes NIXsolutions. Altman predicted this could emerge “in a few thousand days.” As the landscape of AI continues to evolve, we’ll keep you updated on new developments and their potential impact on humanity.