Google’s CEO of DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, recently stated at a TED conference in Canada that Google is prepared to spend over $100 billion on the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI) in response to Microsoft’s recent “Stargate” announcement. Microsoft and OpenAI are reportedly in talks to build a $100 billion supercomputer project for training AI systems, codenamed “Stargate.” The proposed costs of this project are significantly higher than the construction cost of the world’s most powerful supercomputer. While Hassabis didn’t provide specific details about Google’s response, his comments suggest that the company is aware of Microsoft’s endeavors and is prepared to invest just as much, if not more.
Both Google and Microsoft are competing to be the first organization to achieve artificial general intelligence. Current AI systems have limitations due to their training methods and data, falling short of “human-level” intelligence. AGI refers to an AI system that could theoretically perform any task an average adult human can do given the right resources. For instance, an AGI system with access to a line of credit, a cryptocurrency wallet, and the internet should be able to start and manage its own business.
The challenge of developing AGI lies in the lack of scientific consensus on what exactly it is and how it can be created. Even renowned AI scientists like Yann LeCun and Demis Hassabis have differing opinions on whether AGI can be achieved through the current methods of increasing datasets and training parameters, or if it is achievable at all. Hassabis compared the current hype around AI and AGI to the scams that have plagued the cryptocurrency market.
Despite the skepticism, both AI and cryptocurrency have witnessed significant growth in their respective financial spaces. Bitcoin, the most popular cryptocurrency, has doubled in value since April 2023, reaching over $60,000 per coin at the time of writing. Similarly, Microsoft, the current leader in the AI industry, has experienced an increase in stock value from $286 to approximately $416 during the same period. This demonstrates the enormous potential and interest surrounding these technologies.
It’s clear that both companies are more interested in making headlines than achieving real progress.
The growth of both AI and cryptocurrency is a testament to the remarkable advancements we’re making in the tech world! Exciting times indeed!
I highly doubt AGI can even be achieved. This whole thing seems like a wild goose chase.