PART III : THE INFLECTION POINT WHERE HUMANS DECIDE THEIR LEGACY
From: OUR EXPONENTIAL JOURNEY: MANIFESTO FOR THE FUTURE OF HUMAN & ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Previously: PART II: THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
We stand on the edge of a new era, the countdown to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is no longer a distant speculation but an imminent reality. Industry leaders like Sam Altman, Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman, and Mark Zuckerberg each predict AGI within this decade— marking 2026 to 2030 as the years when machines surpass humans.
But as we’ve explored in the previous chapter, AGI is not merely another tool in our technological arsenal— it’s a moment in time that could redefine the very essence of humanity.
As we approach this critical inflection point, the choices we make now will determine whether AGI becomes a trusted ally in our quest for progress or an existential threat.
Welcome to Part III: The Inflection Point Where Humans Decide Their Legacy.
In such defining moments the duality of existence becomes starkly apparent. On one path lies the promise of a utopian future, where AI elevates humanity to levels of fulfilment and enlightenment beyond our current imagination. On the other hand we face the potential for an apocalyptic reality, where artificial super intelligences, operating beyond our control and comprehension, might pursue goals that conflict with our own, competing for the same vital resources and jeopardising the very survival of our species—and possibly our planet
When asked “I have good news and bad news, which one do you want to hear first?”— it is within our primal nature to want to delay pain, yet our rational brain subconsciously knows that it is generally wise to face adversity head on. In that spirit, let’s begin by understanding how we might plausibly reach a degenerative outcome with AGI. What follows are two scenarios that paint the picture of what a dystopian AI future may look like and how we could get there.
1) The rise of the redundant class.
By the end of the year, GPT-5 & Gemini2 class models will be released. Equipped with 100x more compute power than their predecessors, these advanced generative AI models will reach new heights in reasoning, planning, memory, and customisation. Beyond online chat interfaces like today, they will quickly be integrated into everyday life through voice commands and devices like smart glasses.
By 2027, autonomous AI agents capable of performing complex tasks without oversight will become widespread, automating processes in finance, law, and healthcare. While businesses thrive on newfound efficiency, millions of individuals start facing job displacement faster than any previous industrial or technological revolution. This AI-enabled technological progress, once seen as the coolest thing ever, starts to create ripples of societal divides.
The appearance of a redundant class struggling to find purpose in a world dominated by AI starts to emerge.
The late 2020s bring the robotics revolution, with AI-driven robots becoming commonplace in industries like manufacturing and logistics. Job losses in blue-collar sectors lead to economic upheaval, as communities dependent on manual labor struggle to adapt. The once-celebrated promise of technology begins to unravel, leaving many questioning their place in an AI-dominated world.
By 2030, whispers of AGI become a reality and emerge as capable of surpassing human intelligence and understanding across all cognitive and manual tasks. The pace of change accelerates, the feeling of human obsoleteness becomes mainstream, and society is left grappling with the implications of machines that can think and act autonomously.
Economic disparity widens, creating a chasm between those who control AI and those who are left behind. Social unrest erupts, as people demand answers from the corporations and governments that failed to protect their livelihoods.
Only for AGI-managed law enforcement to suppress that dissent with chilling efficiency. Increasingly powerless, the redundant class evolves into the redundant species.
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2) The social engineering of one billion people with AI.
Position yourself in modern day China. In 2030, the still-governing CCP (Chinese Communist Party) starts to envision social unrest and resistance as an unnecessary nuisance. In the era of AGI, a plan is quickly set out to tackle opposition proactively before the first protestor sets foot on the street.
As the only entities capable of digesting all data generated in real time, advanced AI systems filter through social media interactions, browsing habits, and personal conversations as they happen to predict and manipulate future behaviour. Advertisements are no longer mere suggestions; they are personalised commands designed to influence purchasing decisions, voting patterns, and lifestyle choices.
AGI systems generate and distribute tailored news stories and social media content on an individual level. These narratives are so well-crafted that distinguishing truth from fiction becomes nearly impossible for the average citizen and the degree of influence on public opinion is unlike anything seen before.
As AGI continuously refines its techniques at an ever faster pace, individuals unknowingly surrender their autonomy. Their thoughts and actions are nudged in desired directions, creating a populace that is docile, compliant, and unaware of its manipulation.
In this future, AGI has been weaponized to manipulate public opinion and behaviour on an unprecedented scale. Governments and corporations use AGI to shape societal norms, beliefs, and even emotions, leading to a world where free thought is subtly controlled and dictated.
3) Back to the present.
Here comes the bad news. Looking at the current development path of AI, these scenarios are far from impossible. Rather than mere science fiction, the feeling shared is one “too close for comfort.”
Currently, the development of AI is dominated by a few powerful corporations—Google, Meta, Microsoft. These organisations control the most advanced models and operate in complete to partial secrecy despite claims of transparency. OpenAI’s GPT models for instance, remain behind completely closed doors, while Meta’s LLaMA 3 model, although proudly open-sourced, lacks any transparency regarding the data it was trained on.
But let’s remember that technologies are neutral: a hammer can build a house or crush a skull.
It is the opaque concentration of AI power in the hands of a limited group that indeed presents significant risks to society.
Individuals and corporations have biases, personal agendas, and just plainly commit errors - and history has shown us that when humans are placed in a position of absolute power, the temptation to play god is real, and the consequences are just too catastrophic.
Abuses of power in the Soviet Union led to a generational famine as the government tried to centrally plan all aspects of the economy. Delusions of Nazi Germany led to the systematic genocides of an entire population.
Centralising AI behind closed doors magnifies the risk of single points of failure. Society is forced to place its trust into the hands of an arbitrary actor, political democracies are forced to accept intellectual dictatorships.
As we stand on the brink of AGI, we must ask ourselves: who should control intelligence itself?
Is there another way forward? A path where AI serves as a partner in human progress, rather than a threat to our existence. The future is ours to shape, and the choices we make today will carve the legacy we leave behind. Can we envision a world where AI and humanity not only coexist but thrive together in harmony?
Join us in the next release as we explore a vision for a brighter future.
Next release: THE PATH TO REAL OPEN AI: