What Potential Applications Can Artificial General Intelligence Have?

The World After AGI: What Artificial General Intelligence Could Change

A research by Asad Hasan Alvi

Artificial Intelligence is one of the marvels of human creation, which keeps pushing the boundaries of innovation. There are two types: Narrow AI and General AI (which is the talking point of this essay). Narrow AI (also known as weak AI) exceeds human ability in a specific task; for example, chatbots like ChatGPT. [1] Lastly, "Artificial General Intelligence" (AGI, for short) can solve numerous tasks, matching or even exceeding human capability. Also known as strong AI, AGI does not currently exist, but its emergence in the near future seems very likely. [2]

AGI has the potential to revolutionize the world in the same manner computers have. It can become as ubiquitous as mobile phones in our lives. AGI can discern between data patterns much quicker than humans. While also improving from its past mistakes, all of this can drastically enhance AGI-produced results, making them much faster, more reliable, and more powerful (knowledgeably) than humans.

AGI - when it emerges - can substantially alter industries. It will usher in a new world order. In medicine, doctors perform tasks that mostly require high accuracy. This accuracy - which specialists may not always employ - can be the difference between life and death. AGI can aid in complex decision-making based on the available data. While accurately diagnosing ailments and medical conditions, AGI can also suggest adequate treatment. It can also be helpful in complicated operations (where the slightest mistake could be fatal) since it'll be meticulously precise in locating a vein or nerve, [3] profoundly boosting success rates.

The manufacturing industry can also benefit vastly from the advent of AGI. It's an industry where "every minute of operation counts". [4] Unlike humans, who can work only for a limited number of hours, automated machines - with the power of AGI - can work without the need to halt. Furthermore, making errors is part of human nature; AGI eliminates this probability due to its exceptional productivity in repetitive tasks, thus leading to outstanding efficiency. [5] All of this significantly cuts down costs for the manufacturer, making AGI a high-profile target for manufacturers.

AGI also has the capability to transform the transportation industry. Traffic jams, the nuisance that they are, are experienced by all of us. Apart from being a waste of time, they can also cause painful economic losses. In the US alone, the hours lost due to traffic jams led to a loss of a whopping $305 billion in 2017. [6] Now, imagine a world with no traffic jams. It may seem like a distant dream, but it could be possible due to AGI. Automated transport not only reduces carbon emissions (due to efficient use of fuel) but also eliminates congestion due to advanced algorithms (leading to better traffic management). 

In conclusion, although AGI’s impact will not be limited to just the three industries mentioned above, it'll change every field for the better. Experts forecast a 25% chance of achieving AGI by 2030. [7] As we stand on the brink of this AGI-driven revolution, it is imperative for us to recognize its potential and embrace it, instead of being skeptical. The world is moving ahead at a mind-boggling speed. The only way we can catch up is to take advantage of this new technology, for the betterment of humanity itself.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] Mark Labbe & Ivy Wigmore, "What is narrow AI (weak AI)?" TechTarget. 2024.

[2] Robert Earl Wells, "What Is Strong AI?" Lifewire, AI & Science. 2024.

[3] David Watson, Helen Williams, "Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Computer Science", Hodder Education (2021)

[4] Cindy Gordon, "How General AI Will Eventually Reshape Everything", Forbes. 2023.

[5] Rainer Brehm, "How AI is Enabling Self-Learning Factories", Harvard Business Review. 2021

[6] Archil Cheishvili, "The Future of Artificial General Intelligence", Forbes. 2021.

[7] Benjamin Schneider, "Traffic's Mind-Boggling Economic Toll", Bloomberg. 2018.

REFERENCES

Mark Labbe & Ivy Wigmore, "What is narrow AI (weak AI)?" TechTarget. 2024. [https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/definition/narrow-AI-weak-AI ]

Robert Earl Wells, "What Is Strong AI?" Lifewire, AI & Science. 2024.

[https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-strong-ai-7555699 ]

David Watson, Helen Williams, "Cambridge IGCSE and O Level Computer Science", Hodder Education (2021)

Cindy Gordon, "How General AI Will Eventually Reshape Everything", Forbes. 2023. [https://www.forbes.com/sites/cindygordon/2023/09/30/how-general-ai-will-eventually-reshape-everything ]

Rainer Brehm, "How AI is Enabling Self-Learning Factories", Harvard Business Review. 2021. [https://hbr.org/sponsored/2021/12/how-ai-is-enabling-self-learning-factories ]

Archil Cheishvili, "The Future of Artificial General Intelligence", Forbes. 2021 [https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2021/07/16/the-future-of-artificial-general-intelligence ]

Benjamin Schneider, "Traffic's Mind-Boggling Economic Toll", Bloomberg. 2018. [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-07/new-study-of-global-traffic-reveals-that-traffic-is-bad  ]