The concept of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) has long been a staple in science fiction literature, often portrayed as a super intelligent artificial intelligence (AI) capable of significantly surpassing human abilities. While AGI remains a futuristic idea, recent developments in generative AI have sparked discussions about how close we may be to achieving it.

AGI fundamentally differs from today’s specialized AI systems, which excel in specific tasks but lack general intelligence. Specialized AI, such as chess programs or recommendation algorithms, can perform exceptionally well within their domains but cannot adapt to new tasks outside their expertise. AGI, on the other hand, is seen as a more versatile form of intelligence, capable of addressing a wide range of intellectual challenges and adapting to various domains.

Defining AGI is not straightforward, and different experts provide varied descriptions. OpenAI’s charter characterizes AGI as systems that can outperform humans in economically valuable work, while other definitions emphasize the ability to perform intellectual tasks as well as or better than humans. However, it is crucial to recognize that current AI systems are far from reaching AGI, especially when considering the complexity of tasks in the job market.

Recent attention has turned to GPT-4, a large language model that has demonstrated impressive performance across a broad spectrum of tasks, including mathematics, programming, computer vision, medicine, law, psychology, and more. Some researchers see GPT-4 as a promising step towards AGI, while others remain skeptical, arguing that evaluating true AGI requires more than just outstanding performance in specific tasks.

Attributes associated with AGI include logic, autonomy, resilience, integrity, morality, emotion, embodiment, and deep embedding. While AI systems like GPT-4 exhibit logical reasoning abilities, the presence of attributes like morality and emotion remains a subject of debate. AI systems often provide morally correct responses based on training data but do not possess genuine morality or emotions.

It is essential to recognize that intelligence exists on a continuous scale, and assessing proximity to AGI will require nuanced evaluation. AGI will undoubtedly be transformative, affecting various aspects of society, from the job market to concepts like intelligence and creativity. It presents both opportunities and challenges, as it can be harnessed for beneficial purposes but also abused.

AGI represents a superior form of artificial intelligence with the potential to significantly impact society. However, regulating and managing AGI properly remains significant challenges in the face of progress in this field. While addressing potential abuses is crucial, an outright ban on AGI would hinder its potential benefits. Instead, a balanced approach involves gaining a clear understanding of the capabilities and potential abuses of specific AGI systems once they exist and can be analyzed. Regulation should be context-specific and not solely based on AGI capabilities.

(Adapted from Brookings.edu “Artificial general intelligence (AGI). How close are we to AI that surpasses human intelligence?” by Jeremy Baum and John Villasenor, July 18, 2023)