What is Artificial General Intelligence?

May 5, 2024

In a recent interview, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, expressed his commitment to invest billions of dollars towards the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).

About Artificial General Intelligence:

  • It refers to a machine or a software that can perform any intellectual task that a human can do. This includes reasoning, common sense, abstract thinking, background knowledge, transfer learning, ability to differentiate between cause and effect, etc.
  • It aims to emulate human cognitive abilities such that it allows it to do unfamiliar tasks, learn from new experiences, and apply its knowledge in new ways.

How is AGI different from AI we already use?

  • The main difference between AGI and the more common form of AI, also known as narrow AI, lies in their scope and capabilities.
    • Narrow AI is designed to perform specific tasks such as image recognition, translation, or even playing games like chess—at which it can outdo humans, but it remains limited to its set parameters.
    • On the other hand, AGI envisions a broader, more generalised form of intelligence, not confined to any particular task (like humans).

Applications of AGI

  • Healthcare: It can redefine diagnostics, treatment planning, and personalised medicine by integrating and analysing vast datasets, far beyond the capabilities of humans.
  • Finance and business: AGI could automate various processes and enhance the overall decision-making, offering real-time analytics and market predictions with accuracy.