What is AGI (Artificial General Intelligence)?

No matter what industry you are in or where in the world you are placed, escaping artificial intelligence (AI) is highly unlikely. AI has seen a significantly large boom in the last decade. With innovative advancements in technology, it is not long before AI makes a drastic segue to becoming the future as we know it.

What is Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)?

Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is a hypothetical intelligence agent. While the world has not seen what AGI may actually look like as of yet, it has been featured on multiple occasions in some of the most well known and loved movies. The idea of AGI is for it to be a representation of real human cognitive abilities. It is software that, when faced with an unknown task can still find a solution and perform said task in a way a human is capable of.

In theory, AGI would be able to contemplate like a human, combining the flexibility of thinking and reasoning with the advantages of a computer and software, like instant recall and consistency.

What can artificial general intelligence do?

Currently a concept of science fiction, according to researchers and scientists, when created, AGI would be an intelligent system that could combine knowledge and cognitive computing abilities. This would include being creative, having the ability to read and comprehend code, and making changes as necessary. It would have sensory perception, being able to recognize color and perceive depth as well as three-dimensional images. It would have a level of imaginative perception, imitating fine motor skills like grabbing a pen from a bag.

What is the difference between AI and AGI?

AI refers to existing artificial intelligence; some of the most popular AI today includes chatbots and popular voice assistants like Apple’s Siri and Amazon’s Alexa. The main idea that sets AI apart from AGI is that AI is designed and operates within a very specific parameter, learning from the data provided and using that to change in different circumstances. For example, chatbots were created mainly for customer service, acting as agents that can deal with frequently asked questions and provide solutions instantaneously.

On the other hand, AGI is theoretically a machine that can perform as smoothly and intellectually as a human. It is expected to have traits that reason, plan, communicate, learn, and represent knowledge that includes common sense. It is set to have physical traits that can include human-like senses to see, hear, or act.

What are the advantages of AGI?

Some major and potential advantages to having an existing AGI would be the following:

• Healthcare: AGI would potentially help the healthcare system by diagnosing diseases, assisting in treatment as well as research for drugs and medications.
• Education: AGI could play a major role in education and training, providing learning systems, as well as possibly customizing individual learning plans.
• Government defense: AGI would amp up security and surveillance, with the ability to create real-time strategies on the battlefield.

Conclusion

AGI has its fair share of advantages and disadvantages, a major one being its ability to surpass and outsmart humankind. The implications of such a development have to be taken with precautionary steps; like every other creation and innovation, there are pros and cons, but when used to the benefit of humankind and the further development of intelligence and knowledge, AGI has the potential to change the world for the better.