Tech Giants Ditch AGI: What's in a Name?

Why the Shift?

Big tech companies are moving away from the term Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). Once seen as the ultimate goal for AI, companies are now using new terms. But why the change?

The Problem with AGI

• Vague Definition: AGI was supposed to mean AI that matches or beats human intelligence. But the definition was always unclear.
• Different Interpretations: Different people had different ideas about what AGI meant.

New Terms, New Meanings

Companies are creating their own terms to replace AGI:

• Meta: "Personal Superintelligence (PSI)"
• Microsoft: "Humanist Superintelligence (HSI)"
• Amazon: "Useful General Intelligence (UGI)"
• Anthropic: "Powerful AI (PI)"

More Than Just Semantics

The shift isn't just about words. It's about:

• Avoiding Negative Baggage: Tech companies have spent years warning about the dangers of super-smart AI. The public is tired of these doomsday scenarios.
• Making AI Sound Less Scary: Companies want their AI to sound more useful and less frightening.

Business and Control

• Investments: Companies have invested billions in AI. They don't want to be held to a vague standard like AGI.
• Controlling the Narrative: By creating their own definitions, companies can avoid potential backlash and control the conversation.

A History of Changing Tunes

• 2019 Deal: Microsoft and OpenAI signed a deal with an "AGI clause." It gave Microsoft rights to OpenAI's tech until AGI was achieved.
• No Clear Definition: The deal didn't define what AGI meant. So, when they renewed the deal, they added an independent panel to verify AGI.

Timing and Rebranding

• Predictions: Companies like Anthropic predict "powerful AI" by 2026. OpenAI thinks AGI is coming soon.
• Staying Ahead: Companies are rebranding their AI efforts to sound more practical and less scary.

The Confusion Continues

• New Terms: We've got PSI, HSI, UGI, and PI. It's a lot to keep track of.
• Still Vague: These new terms are still open to interpretation and may not be any better than AGI.

The Bottom Line

The shift away from AGI is about:

• Controlling the Narrative
• Avoiding Negative Baggage
• Staying Ahead of the Curve

But it's also about making AI sound more practical and less scary. Whether these new terms will stick remains to be seen.