What is AGI, and Why It’s Not Real

You’ve probably heard companies throwing around the term “AGI” or “Artificial General Intelligence.” It sounds impressive—like we’re on the verge of creating an AI that can do everything a human can do, maybe even better. But here’s the thing: AGI is more of a vague concept than a reality.

Right now, we have AI (artificial intelligence) that’s excellent at specific tasks—think of a machine that can beat humans in chess or help diagnose diseases faster than doctors. But when it comes to doing everything a human can do, we’re nowhere near. And honestly, it’s a bit misleading to compare AI to human intelligence because there’s no such thing as “general” human intelligence in the first place.

The Problem with the AGI Concept

Humans aren’t equally good at all tasks. Some of us are great at math but terrible at spelling, or we might be fantastic artists but hopeless with numbers. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” intelligence for people. So when companies claim they’ve built an AI that’s “as smart as a human,” they’re often talking about a model that’s great at a few specific things—but not across the board.

AI can already outperform humans in many areas, like analyzing data or playing video games. But in other areas, like spelling a simple word or counting, they can fail pretty badly. So, when a company says their AI has reached “general intelligence,” it’s often marketing hype for a very clever but specialized model.

No Golden Test for AGI

Another big reason AGI isn’t real? There’s no universal test to determine if an AI has general intelligence. Humans don’t have one either! Sure, we have IQ tests, but even those only measure certain types of intelligence. There’s no agreed-upon standard for what makes someone or something “intelligent” across all areas.

In the end, AGI is an interesting idea, but for now, it’s just that: an idea. We’re making amazing progress in AI, but let’s not jump ahead and give too much credit where it’s not due. When it comes to AI, we’re still mastering the basics—and that’s okay!