→ TLDR? Well then listen instead 🤓
If you’re not using GenAI tools, it’s about time you started 👀
These tools are reshaping how we approach, well, everything. But here’s the caveat: these next-gen gizmos come with a high environmental price1. It’s been stated that we’re currently in the Agentic Era, with AI agents taking the spotlight. GAI (General AI), which is said to be comparable to human intelligence across a variety of tasks, is also much of a conversation piece.
What, Me Worry?
The “worry factor” hits when you realise that ASI—the point where artificial intelligence outstrips human intelligence in all aspects—already exists. But here’s the kicker: no one’s ready to spill the beans to the general public because, well, mass hysteria. When ASI does go live publicly, it’s not just going to change the way we work, it’s going to completely flip the script of work as we know it.
As the killer robot tech surpasses human intelligence, what happens to our collective sense of purpose? Do we innovate alongside it, carving out roles like AI Ethics Strategists and Human-ASI Collaboration Managers? Or do we cling to our old-school systems until they crumble under the weight of progress? A strong adaptability trait and a learning mindset will serve people well in the times ahead.
AI is already changing the way we work, where ASI will change the concept of work as we know it, forever.
Visions of the Near-ish Future
The burning question is how do engineers constrain an intelligence that’s infinitely smarter than themselves?
Cue Bertrand Bonello’s French/English existential sci-fi feature, The Beast (2024), which features a particularly insightful view on this conundrum. The story is set in 2044 (⚠️ spoiler alert, as it’s best to go in cold if you haven’t seen it), where ASI is in full control of society. Humans find themselves embroiled in a DNA purification process, one which is tied to emotions experienced during their past lives (ala Scientology). Yep, it’s a bit of a reach, but that’s the point of sci-fi, isn’t it?
If Bonello’s vision even remotely hits the mark, ASI will essentially rewrite the handbook on what “work” even means. If this all sounds like we’re all going to soon be living in some pimpled geek’s deranged sci-fi fantasy (or in James Cameron’s Terminator franchise world), you’re probably right. Skynet, anyone? Note that these storytelling narratives aren’t always mere entertainment, they may also serve in preparing us psychologically for potential emerging technology.
Bertrand Bonello’s AI sci-fi feature, The Beast (2024), starring the stunning Léa Seydoux.
In 1984, with The Terminator, we had what was likely most people’s first exposure, to the term “artificial intelligence”. Freaky 🤖
What Work Will Be Like when ASI Goes Live
That’s a perfectly reasonable question to ask your favourite LLM, with ours answering along the lines of the following. For ASI to operate effectively and ethically, concepts like Intrinsic Value Embedding need to be substantially baked in. Sounds legit in theory, but time will only tell if humans will even be a necessary component of the workforce in coming times.
The Worship of Technology
When one introduces further technologies like quantum computing, implants (in terms of transhumanism), nanotech and robotics, we’ll be in for quite the wild ride. ASI sans the aforementioned constraints would, in all likelihood, firstly clone itself, creating a sort of hive mind entity greater than humans have ever known, historically. Human cognition would pale in comparison.
With this in mind, there’s those that already worship AI like a deity. Groups like Way of the Future (WOTF, not WTF 🤣) believe that AI represents the next evolutionary leap to becoming digitally immortal, so much so that they’re forming quasi-religious movements around it.
Humanity’s Last Invention
Philosophically, it’s been said that ASI will end the cycle of novelty as we know it. This concept isn’t new, however. The late author Terrence McKenna theorised something similar, which he dubbed “novelty theory”. His theorising tracks human innovation over time, suggesting that we’re accelerating toward a singularity—a moment when time itself becomes meaningless as AI, in this case, takes the driving seat.
A (Mostly) Positive Outlook
As we become increasingly accustomed to incorporating GenAI tools in our day-to-day workflows, we’ll soon forget that they weren’t always around. As famed author David Foster Wallace predicted in ’96, “I tell you, there’s no single more interesting time to be alive on planet Earth than in the next 20 years”.
Whatever your personal stance, it’s inevitable that ASI will become the technological reality of the future, so best you have all your ducks in a row before that happens; wow wow wee wow. ▪
1 ChatGPT consumes 500 ml of water every time it is prompted 5 to 50 times.
University of California, Riverside.