Levels of AI Systems and the Road to AGI

Decoding AGI: A New Framework for Understanding Artificial Intelligence

As a managing consultant with a focus on Digital Transformation and AI, I recently came across an insightful article that introduces a practical framework for understanding the progress of AI towards AGI. Let me share it with you with my comments.

While AGI is a commonly used term in tech circles, its definition has often been vague or incomplete. Actually, there have been multiple different definitions for it, most of them lacking one or more key aspects of it. However, researchers at Google DeepMind have recently made strides in clarifying this concept. ????

The new framework proposed by Google DeepMind researchers, as detailed in their article (source), aims to provide a more concrete understanding of AGI and the path leading to it.

The recently introduced framework marks a significant advancement in how we chart the journey towards AGI. It's more than just developing increasingly intelligent AI; it's about comprehensively understanding the distinct phases that AI systems undergo to reach a level where they can handle any intellectual task that a human is capable of. This progression towards AGI is characterized by two key dimensions: the performance capabilities of the AI system and the scope or generality of its applications. ????

In essence, this framework doesn't only track how 'smart' AI is becoming. It also measures how broad or specialized the AI's abilities are, providing a dual perspective on its evolution towards AGI.

In some areas, AI has already achieved Level 5: Superhuman performance, albeit in a narrow sense. Take, for instance, the recent advancements in solving the protein folding problem, or Google's AlphaZero, outperforming all humans in go. These achievements, though specific, hint at the potential trajectory towards AGI. It's a glimpse into how general capabilities might evolve from these narrow applications. However, AGI systems are still in the very early phase, with ChatGPT and similar advanced LLMs showing some Level 1: Emerging AGI capabilities.

This new framework gives us a clearer language and set of criteria to evaluate and test future AI systems. It's a step towards a general framework that can guide our understanding and development of AI technologies.

For those of us in management and leadership roles, this development is crucial. It helps us better strategize and prepare for the integration of AI in our industries. Understanding where we stand on the path to AGI can inform our decisions and investments in technology.

It is also essential to understand the different AI maturity levels and the associated risks, which can influence or company, or workforce and even our very society.

The journey towards AGI is still unfolding, but with this new framework, we have a clearer map, how AI systems might advance and what are their implications to our organizations, colleagues, profession and life.

If you'd like to know more about AI and its impact on Management and Organizations, check out my book, 'The Augmented Organization - Management and Work in the Age of AI'.

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Let's engage in a discussion on how this new understanding of AI can shape your approach to AI!