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The Rise of Superintelligence
With the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT-5, we are on the brink of realizing a general-purpose superintelligence capable of outperforming human cognition by significant margins. As this moment approaches, my concerns grow about our readiness to handle the societal upheavals it may cause—and my worries stem from unexpected sources.
Consider this simple experiment: ask anyone if they are worried about AI. You will likely hear various fears, ranging from job market disruptions and the unsettling effects of deepfakes to the concentration of unprecedented power within a few major AI companies. However, few have genuinely contemplated how their lives will change once superintelligence becomes widely accessible.
Artificial superintelligence (ASI) refers to systems that can surpass human capabilities in areas such as planning, reasoning, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and creativity. These systems will tackle complex challenges in mere moments, tasks that might take the brightest human experts days, weeks, or even years to resolve. This reality is daunting, but my concerns lie not in doomsday scenarios but rather in the risks associated with the best-case outcomes of superintelligence.
The Impact on Human Identity
While ASI promises numerous benefits for society, it may also pose profound challenges to our fundamental sense of identity as humans. Imagine a world where we are acutely aware that a more intelligent, faster, and creative entity exists at our fingertips, surpassing our own cognitive abilities.
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Navigating a New Reality
In this new reality, how will humans respond? Will we instinctively turn to our AI assistants for guidance in every challenge, or worse, will we start to trust these assistants more than our own thoughts and instincts?
Before you answer, consider updating your perspective. Currently, we interact with AI through a Socratic method, asking questions to receive answers—much like Captain Kirk aboard the Enterprise in 1966. However, this approach is outdated. We are entering an era where AI assistants will be seamlessly integrated into wearable devices equipped with cameras and microphones, allowing them to perceive our surroundings and provide unsolicited advice.
This shift means that our lives will increasingly involve AI assistants that accompany us, enhancing our experiences with tailored guidance at every turn. The risk lies not in our habitual queries to AI but in the reality that we may no longer need to ask—the advice will flow directly into our consciousness, shaping our actions and influencing our decisions before we have the chance to think independently.
I term this phenomenon ‘augmented mentality,’ and it is poised to permeate society through AI-powered glasses, earbuds, and pendants. This represents the future of mobile computing, sparking a competitive race among tech giants like Meta, Google, Samsung, and Apple to develop context-aware AI devices that will ultimately replace handheld phones.
The Dilemma of Human Agency
Imagine walking down the street and encountering a coworker whose name you can’t recall. Your AI assistant recognizes your hesitation and whispers the name into your ear. It also suggests you inquire about your coworker’s spouse, who recently underwent surgery. The coworker appreciates your concern and, prompted by his own AI, asks about your recent promotion.
Is this empowerment or a diminishment of human agency? While having an AI in your ear that ensures you never forget a name and always have something clever to say may feel like a superpower, it raises questions about the authenticity of our interactions. Everyone will have their own AI providing guidance, leading us to wonder whether we are truly connecting with the individual in front of us or merely engaging with the AI influencing their responses.