The tech giants of Silicon Valley are investing heavily in artificial general intelligence (A.G.I.), a goal that has captured their imagination for decades. This pursuit has led to a frenzy, with billions of dollars being poured into research and development. However, some experts warn that this focus on A.G.I. may come at the expense of more pressing needs.
The roots of Silicon Valley’s fascination with A.G.I. date back to the 1950s, when Alan Turing proposed the imitation game. The idea has evolved over time, but the goal remains constant: to create a machine as intelligent as the human brain. I.J. Good, Turing’s colleague, saw the potential for smart machines to recursively self-improve, leading him to declare that “the first ultraintelligent machine is the last invention that man need ever make.”
The current approach is to build at all costs, with tech giants competing to reach A.G.I. first. This has led to extravagant spending on data centers and signing bonuses for top researchers. The costs of training foundation models continue to rise, with some estimates suggesting that leading models may cost upwards of $100 billion in the next two years.
As the nation’s tech leaders focus on A.G.I., they risk bypassing more practical applications of existing technology. China, which is less concerned with creating superintelligent machines, is instead focusing on using AI for practical purposes. This raises concerns that Silicon Valley may be falling behind its Chinese counterparts.
The author argues that this obsession with A.G.I. should give us pause. While the potential benefits are significant, it’s essential to consider whether the risks outweigh the rewards. As we move forward in the development of AI, it’s crucial to prioritize responsible innovation and ensure that the benefits of technology are accessible to all.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/opinion/artificial-general-intelligence-superintelligence.html