What is the Difference Between AI and AGI?
5 min read
Artificial intelligence or AI, is widely available to us nowadays and we make full use of it. However, Artificial General Intelligence or AGI, is a term that is less frequently used. I would say not everyone may be familiar with AGI in the same way that we are with AI. What distinguishes AGI from AI, then? What sets general AI apart from the narrow AI that we are all familiar with? Let's dig into that!
Difference between AI and AGI: Understanding AI vs AGI
Suppose you have been given a task that requires you to write content, and you are running out of time. What would you do first, if you could?
Turn to ChatGPT, the most popular and widely used AI tool, or any other AI program to assist you in finding the best answers and content. Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to software or a system that can carry out tasks that normally require human intelligence.
When we discuss software, it's clear that we're talking about computer science. Therefore, you can say that AI is a branch of computer science and programming that involves a vast array of algorithms.
AI is capable of completing most tasks that humans assign to it. It excels in certain activities; it can quickly provide all the information you need to answer any question, generate code for you, and even translate any language you want it to. Although AI is truly impressive these days, its abilities are limited to specific, well-defined areas.
In summary, artificial intelligence (AI) has limited functionality and intellect, but it is still capable of reasoning, learning, and acting independently. This is why this type of AI is referred to as narrow AI, as it has a narrow scope.
On the other hand, AGI, or artificial general intelligence, is more akin to a combination of AI and human intellect. Although AGI remains largely theoretical at this stage, numerous tech companies are already working on various AGI models.
The ultimate goal in the AI field is to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI), which will possess intelligence on par with humans.
AGI is often considered the apex of human achievement in computer science.
Open AI CEO Sam Altman defines, “AGI describes the concept of an AI that thinks and learns in a manner similar to humans. It doesn’t need to be trained to solve specific problems but can lean on what it already knows to figure out solutions, just like a human.”
4 ways how AI and AGI differ from each other? More difference(s) between AI and AGI
Currently, AI is available, but it has significant limitations compared to the theoretically higher potential of AGI. AGI can have applications in a wide range of fields, including healthcare, banking, art and community development.
AGI, for instance, can be used to quickly detect illnesses, forecast catastrophes and even work with writers, musicians and artists to create innovative masterpieces of art.
But let’s see how AGI differs from AI in terms of scope, intellect, learning and interaction.
Here's how I think I can break it down.
- Where’s the scope?
AGI is more than just AI. I believe it will offer a full spectrum of human cognitive abilities with a clear ability to tackle any intellectual challenge a human can.
For instance, I can teach my artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chess player to rule the board, but it has no idea how to play the guitar. AGI aspires to be a master audio engineer, writer, chess player, guitarist and all in between.
- What intelligence I’m talking about?
So, my artificial intelligence-powered chess player is capable of outwitting any human opponent, but its comprehension of the game is limited. It’s limited to only certain strategies.
The goal of AGI is to achieve a human-like grasp of concepts, such as the ability to appreciate the beauty of a checkmate while also winning the game.
- AGI’s learning and reasoning abilities
A typical AI system relies on me to feed it mountains of data structures and algorithms to learn and act. AGI wants to be self-taught and more autonomous.
AGI wants to soak up knowledge and skills from the world around it like a curious child.
- How will it interact back?
My AI interacts with the chessboard, but that's about it. On the other hand, AGI wants to be a fully-fledged member of society.
Like humans, AGI aspires to learn from our experiences in the physical and social worlds and engage in human-like interactions.
Is generative AI and AGI similar? AGI vs generative AI
The answer is no. Generative AI is only a part of AI, which can help you create new content, such as code, text, images, music, video, etc.
ChatGPT is a classic example of generative AI that uses a large neural network model to generate text based on a given input. It can produce realistic and coherent conversations, but it is not the only way to do generative AI.
AGI is a hypothetical type of AI that can perform any intellectual task that a human can.
While generative AI is impressive and powerful, it is still far from achieving the level of intelligence and versatility of AGI.
AI and AGI: Humans vs. Robots/Machines - Closing the Gap
The ultimate goal is the complete automation of human lives and society.
While AI has made significant progress in automation, AGI has the potential to advance it even further. Since AGI automation can be applied to numerous industries to improve various aspects, it has the potential to be revolutionary.
It is more likely that humans will increase automation to the point where AGI can exist seamlessly. In the end, it will be more like humans versus machines.
Consider the movie called Her, which was based on artificial intelligence. It completely blew my mind. It showcased what AGI could be like. AGI is not just AI that can talk to you, but AI that can feel, think, and love like you.
The movie made me wonder how AGI would change our lives and relationships. It was a beautiful and touching story that made me hopeful for the future of AGI.
