In every field, there are no ultimate experts. The most brilliant minds, scientists, and theorists are mere novices in the vast world of information. Daily, thousands of scientific papers are published across various domains. Even focusing on a single area, such as economics, would require years to digest all the statistics, graphs, and event analyses, not to mention the need for comprehension and prediction. This approach was effective in the 20th century.
The world stands on the brink of the fourth technological revolution, potentially the final one in the era of modern humanity.
Attempting to grasp the entirety of current global events or cultural developments is futile. In the past, innovation was thought to stem from revisiting or reinterpreting old ideas. Now, tasks ranging from composing music to researching and analyzing new materials are managed by AI.
While it’s important not to overvalue their contributions, underestimating the latest versions would be a mistake. The reality is that AI have significantly accelerated work across all fields, making processes faster, more efficient, and more vibrant. However, today’s discussion is not focused on AI.
The Supermind is set to transform everything
Some refer to it as a God created by humans, a supermind with qualities and knowledge beyond our limited perception and thought. Others see it as a savior to resolve humanity’s disputes and strife. Yet, there are those who believe its creation could be the final downfall of mankind.
As previously mentioned, no one today can claim expertise in any field due to the overwhelming amount of information available. Many have observed various political predictions for Russia from different economists. The nation’s challenging situation glued millions to their screens, following experts across various domains. However, naming these experts is pointless as not one prediction came to fruition; events unfolded differently.
Take, for instance, a renowned Harvard professor, an intelligent man with numerous publications, who claimed at the end of 2022 that AI, while impressive, would not grasp reality for a long time since they merely rehash existing knowledge. He speculated it might take 50 years for such advancements. Yet, he was mistaken, as GPT-4 managed to construct its own worldview, solve spontaneously created puzzles, and most notably, think abstractly in a manner akin to humans.
Creating poems, music, or drawings in a novel style, or devising unique methods in any domain, is a remarkable feat. The supermind, having a complete picture of the world, will be able to predict the future with precision, unlike a person who grasps less than 0.0001% of all that occurs. Our knowledge is limited by our subjective means of perceiving the world. Huxley observed:
‘There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.’
Indeed, he is correct. In forming judgments about others or situations, humans initially rely on instincts and emotions, with rational thought following. This sequence contributes to the prevalent aggression and misunderstanding among people today.
We once thought of the mind as unique and irreplaceable, yet AI suggest otherwise, demonstrating that a similar mind could exist within thousands of interconnected chips, akin to our brain. Observers have recognized signs of intelligence in the latest AI versions, suggesting that version 5 or 7 might mark the inception of superintelligence.
Elon Musk predicts its arrival by 2026.
