What does the world look like when everyone has a 10,000 IQ?

Consumer AI has arrived. Unlike cryptocurrency, its utility is almost indisputable. Unlike my utility bills, they're always disputable, amirite? Even people who are skeptical of technology understand its value and have experienced it through apps like ChatGPT, DALLE, Jasper and Lensa.

Currently, there is a global competition among countries, companies, and organizations to advance AI technology, with AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) being the ultimate goal. The race is on, and the stakes are high.

Different players have different approaches: China wants to keep AI development closed, whereas OpenAI aims for as much openness as sustainably possible. What could go wrong? 😅

Companies like OpenAI, Facebook, Google, and presumably Apple, are working to innovate in this space. The ultimate winner will be determined by data (who has the most quantity and quality) and compute (who has the most processing resources to train models against the data).

The term "space race" is an apt metaphor, as there will be one winner, and the "moon landing" will be the delivery of AGI. And we'll all be left wondering what the robots will do with us.

Don't panic yet; these are still early days, and the landscape will evolve over the next decade.

First-order beneficiaries

Early adopters, such as Jasper and Lensa, leverage existing AI models but lack the technical or financial capability to build alternative models. They succeed due to being first and having excellent sales and marketing strategies. However, the innovation here is low as it's trivial to spin up such companies. An indicator of these companies is the phrase "it's X, but with AI!" How original.

Second-order beneficiaries

Existing companies that use AI but don't sell it as their primary product. For example, a content management system that integrates AI throughout its features, rather than just bolting it on. In contrast to the first-order version of Wordpress, which has a button to "convert this outline into content," the second-order version would generate articles based on readership engagement.

Third-order beneficiaries

This phase represents a post-AGI world, where AI is integrated into everything and becomes a base expectation.

Just as smartphones are now considered an extension of our bodies and always with us, the same will happen with AI. Humans will be able to do more, and we'll expect more from each other. For instance, instead of giving directions, I can send you a pin, knowing that you can figure it out with your smartphone.

What will a doctor's role be when AGI handles diagnosing illnesses and injuries, interprets diagnostic tests, maintains patient records, and stays current with medical research? They'll probably be relegated to taking your blood pressure and asking if you've been flossing.

The third-order beneficiaries will emerge from this fundamental shift in humanity. AI will no longer need explanation.

What will humanity look like when everyone has access to an IQ of 10,000? I'm looking forward to all the flawless Jeopardy games.