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Title: Is the Obsession with Attaining AGI and AI Superintelligence Actually Derailing Progress in AI?
Is the relentless pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and artificial superintelligence (ASI) actually impeding true progress in AI development? This question has sparked a heated debate, with some arguing that the fixation on AGI is detrimental to innovation. Dr. Lance Eliot, an expert in the field, delves into the controversy surrounding AGI and ASI.
The pursuit of AGI and ASI may be misguided, according to researchers Borhane Blili-Hamelin, Christopher Graziul, Leif Hancox-Li, Hananel Hazan, El-Mahdi El-Mhamdi, Avijit Ghosh, Katherine Heller, Jacob Metcalf, Fabricio Murai, Eryk Salvaggio, Andrew Smart, and Todd Snider. They assert that the fixation on AGI is undermining our ability to set effective goals for AI development.
The researchers emphasize six key traps that hinder productive goal-setting:
1. The illusion of consensus: The lack of a universally accepted definition of AGI means that AI developers are free to redefine what they mean by “AGI,” often watering it down or shifting the goalposts.
2. Promulgating bad science: By prioritizing splashy announcements over rigorous empirical research, AI researchers are undermining trust and credibility in their field.
3. Omitting societal and political considerations: The pursuit of AGI is often presented as a purely scientific endeavor, masking the geo-political and economic implications that come with developing such intelligence.
4. Distracting from other subgoals: By focusing solely on AGI, AI researchers are ignoring crucial advancements in other areas, leading to scattered and disjointed progress.
5. Overemphasizing technological achievements: The emphasis on achieving AGI has led to a culture of “heroic” energy, where the goal is no longer about genuine innovation but rather about being the first to achieve AGI.
6. Ignoring AI safety and security concerns: By prioritizing the pursuit of AGI, researchers are neglecting fundamental questions around AI ethics, safety, and security.
In contrast, some experts argue that the pursuit of AGI provides a rallying point for developers and researchers alike. They claim that this single goal is necessary to drive innovation and push the boundaries of what we thought possible.
While the debate rages on, one thing remains certain: the momentum behind AGI is strong, making it difficult to imagine anything powerful enough to bring it to a halt. The only way to dislodge AGI as the guiding force in AI research would be for progress to stall and people to become disillusioned that AGI was merely a pipe dream.
Ultimately, the fate of AI development hangs in the balance.
Source: www.forbes.com
