From the job market to global innovation: everything you need to know about Artificial General Intelligence.It is being discussed in television talk shows, at high-tech conferences and even at the local bar, between a coffee and a croissant. AGI : three letters that evoke images of super-intelligent robots, philosophical machines and a technology that could decide whether we are worthy of continuing to inhabit this planet. But what does Artificial General Intelligence really mean ?
THE ORIGINS OF AGI: From Turing ‘s Dreams to DeepMind Labs
It was 1950 when a certain Alan Turing , (the man who managed to decipher the Nazis’ coded transmissions created with the “Enigma” system, saving millions of lives), began to ask himself a strange question: ” Can a machine think? ” Yet, Turing wasn’t joking at all: with his famous Turing Test , he laid the foundations of what would become research into artificial intelligence.
In the years that followed, the concept of AGI began to take shape. John von Neumann , a brilliant and somewhat future-obsessed mind, imagined that one day machines could become so advanced that they would surpass human intelligence , starting a sort of unstoppable technological domino effect.
THE AGE OF GIANTS : AGI ,OpenAI , DeepMind , and the Race for the Holy Grail
The story kicks into high gear when two giants begin to compete in the field of general artificial intelligence: OpenAI and DeepMind . If they were characters in a movie, OpenAI would be the nerdy idealist who wants to save the world, while DeepMind is the dark genius with an intricate plan to conquer it.
OpenAI , founded with the backing (and dollars) of Elon Musk , starts with an ambitious goal: to create an AGI that benefits all of humanity. On the other side is DeepMind , part of Alphabet ( Google ), which takes a more academic and interdisciplinary approach.
THE DAWN OF AGI: Is it really just around the corner?
We are now in 2024. By 2025, OpenAI predicts that the first fully functional AGI systems will be available. This means that we are not talking about a distant utopia: the dawn of AGI is, quite literally, just around the corner.
Bill Gates , pragmatic as ever, sees extraordinary opportunities: faster medical diagnoses, safer autonomous vehicles, and technology that could address global problems like climate change. Elon Musk , for his part, warns: “AGI could be our best friend or our worst enemy.”
A NEW ERA FOR WORK
Whether it’s improving the quality of life or automating millions of jobs, one thing is certain: AGI will radically transform our society . For many, this means the end of routine: repetitive jobs eliminated, new professions created, a world where humanity focuses on what it does best (let’s hope we don’t argue on Twitter).
But it will also be a challenge. It will require massive retraining of the workforce, new skills, and unprecedented adaptability.
It’s not just the way we work that will change, but work itself. Its ability to learn and adapt autonomously means that many traditional professions could disappear, making way for new roles that will require specialized skills and unprecedented adaptability .
AGI could automate tasks that until now required human expertise:
Transportation : Autonomous vehicles could eliminate millions of jobs for taxi drivers, truck drivers, and logistics workers. A transportation network entirely controlled by AGI could optimize times, routes, and costs, but it would leave many people without traditional jobs.
Administrative sector : Tasks such as data processing, basic accounting, and document management could be performed by AGI systems more quickly and accurately, dramatically reducing the demand for human operators.
Manufacturing : Fully automated production lines, overseen by AGI , could handle not only repetitive tasks but also complex decision-making processes, eliminating the need for human supervisors and technicians.
NEW ROLES AND SKILLS REQUIRED
AGI will eliminate some professions, on the other hand it will create new ones, often in sectors that do not exist today . Some examples include:
AGI Training Specialists : Experts who can teach machines how to behave in specific contexts, optimizing their learning.
AI Ethics Managers : Professionals dedicated to ensuring that AGI operates within ethical, privacy, and regulatory principles. With AGI making autonomous decisions, it will be critical to define and monitor its moral boundaries.
AI Maintenance Technicians : Even superintelligent machines will require supervision and maintenance. This will open up opportunities for engineers and specialists in advanced technologies.
Creators of augmented human experiences : With AGI capable of designing personalized solutions, there will be an increasing demand for professionals who know how to integrate AI with human needs, for example in the design of learning environments or augmented work experiences.
THE MASSIVE REDEVELOPMENT
The great challenge will be to equip the workforce with the skills needed to thrive in a world transformed by AGI.
Governing this transition will require a coordinated effort between governments, businesses, and educational institutions. Some examples of necessary actions include:
Establishment of continuing education programs : Governments and businesses will need to provide lifelong learning opportunities to enable workers to adapt to the new roles created by AGI.
For example, courses to learn programming languages, data management skills, or AI ethics.Collaborations between universities and companies to create ad hoc training programs.
Retraining of workers: Sectors such as logistics, industry and administration will be particularly affected.Reskilling initiatives could help workers transition from automated roles to emerging new sectors.
For example, a truck driver might be trained to manage fleets of autonomous vehicles or work as a technical supervisor.
Focus on Unique Human Skills: While AGI excels at logical and repetitive tasks, human skills such as creativity, empathy, and critical thinking will remain difficult to replicate. Education will therefore need to focus on these skills.
For example, educating workers on how to effectively collaborate with AGI systems, leveraging them to increase their productivity.
EXAMPLES FROM THE PRESENT
Some companies are already starting to prepare for the AGI era
Amazon has launched a retraining program for its employees, investing billions to teach technical skills such as programming or managing advanced automation systems.
Microsoft , in collaboration with academic institutions, has created free training courses to learn how to work with artificial intelligence.
Siemens is introducing learning programs that combine manual and digital work, teaching workers to use advanced tools based on Artificial intelligence.
The transition to the Artificial general intelligence will not be without challenges, but it also represents an opportunity to rethink the very concept of work. To succeed in this unprecedented adaptation, it will be essential to combine continuous education , social support and cooperation between the public and private sectors .
The future of work may not be a battle between humans and machines, but a collaboration where augments human capabilities, freeing us from repetitive tasks and allowing us to focus on what we do best: imagine, create, and innovate.
The story of Artificial general intelIigence is yet to be written, but one thing is certain: we are at a turning point. What Alan Turing could only imagine and what John von Neumann fearfully sensed is about to become reality. The question, however, is not whether it will arrive, but rather how we will be able to live with it without surviving it. https://youtu.be/LtxcOCzonMw?si=N_Aa8SBsl1Xz_I77