I’ve been thinking a lot about Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) lately, and I’ve realised that it’s not some far-off future tech. It’s already here, right under our noses.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. ‘Where’s the robot butler then?’ But AGI isn’t about physical tasks like tying shoelaces. While a toddler can do that, they can’t perform advanced medical diagnoses or code complex software. AGI is about machines that think and reason across different domains, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing today!

Think about it. We’ve got AI like GPT-4 o1 preview that’s coding better than most humans, helping doctors diagnose rare diseases, and even tackling complex physics problems. It’s acing standardised tests and showing IQ levels that would make most of us feel a bit thick.  Sure, it’s not perfect. This is just the first generation, after all. But consider how far we’ve come and how quickly. The imperfections we see now are stepping stones toward even more advanced AGI capabilities.

We need to start thinking about what this means for our jobs, our economy, and our society. AGI isn’t just a nifty tool; it’s reshaping industries and could displace many jobs while creating new opportunities. We must adapt our education systems and policies to prepare for this new reality.

So, next time you’re using one of these AI tools, remember: you’re not just chatting with a clever program. You might be interacting with the first generation of AGI. It’s essential we engage with this technology thoughtfully, considering the ethical implications and embracing lifelong learning to keep pace with these advancements. Wild, isn’t it?