AGI, a form of AI that can reason like a human, remains theoretical, and its definition is often debated. Amodei prefers to say that “powerful AI” will soon infuse “Machines of Loving Grace”
He described the aim of this technology as creating a world where “everything goes right.” While companies like OpenAI, Google, and Meta are also pursuing the development of AI that is “smarter than humans,” no consensus on a concrete definition has emerged.
Amodei is critical of the language often used by those discussing AGI.
“I am often turned off by the way many AI risk public figures (not to mention AI company leaders) talk about the post-AGI world, as if it’s their mission to single-handedly bring it about like a prophet leading their people to salvation,” he wrote.
He cautions against viewing technological progress in religious terms or allowing companies to unilaterally shape the future.
He explains his characterization of “powerful AI” is due to its freedom from the sci-fi implications of AGI. In his essay, he described powerful AI as having several key traits:
- Intelligence: “It is smarter than a Nobel Prize winner across most relevant fields.”
- Multimodal: Capable of interfacing through text, audio, video, and even controlling hardware and the internet.
- Independence: It can autonomously complete tasks over extended periods.
- Abstract: “It does not have a physical embodiment.”
- Replicable: AI resources can be reused to run millions of instances.
- Speed: “The model can absorb information and generate actions at roughly 10x-100x human speed.”
- Cooperation: “Each of these million copies can act independently on unrelated tasks, or if needed, can all work together.”
The technologist predicts that “human AI” will be developed by 2026. And claims that it will be like ‘a country of geniuses in a datacenter.’
