Imagine a world where death becomes optional, scarcity is a distant memory, and romance takes on entirely new dimensions. Sounds like science fiction, right? But according to author, scientist, and futurist Gregory Stock, this could be our reality if Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) reaches its full potential. And this is where it gets mind-boggling: AGI isn't just about smarter machines—it's about a profound transformation of what it means to be human.
Tech giants like Meta and OpenAI are already racing to create AGI, with Mark Zuckerberg openly declaring his ambition to build AGI smarter than humans. But here's where it gets controversial: while some see AGI as humanity's salvation, others, like AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, fear it could lead to our downfall. They’ve joined nearly 70,000 others in signing an open letter calling for a ban on superintelligence development. Why? Because the stakes are existential: Will AGI kill us? Will it steal our jobs? Or will it strip us of our freedom and dignity?
Stock, however, isn’t an AGI doomer. He argues that the most profound changes won’t come from what machines become, but from how we evolve in response. At the recent Beneficial AGI conference in Istanbul, he outlined nine massive shifts AGI could bring—and they’re not what you’d expect.
1. A New Human Identity
Stock predicts that humans and machines will merge into a hybrid super-organism. As AI becomes integral to our cognition, communication, and creativity, our individuality will blur. We’ll shift from tool users to nodes in a vast, interconnected intelligence. But here’s the kicker: What does it mean to be human when the line between us and machines dissolves?
2. The Collapse of Expertise
ChatGPT already makes us feel like instant experts, but Stock takes it further. When anyone can achieve AI-assisted mastery in hours, the concept of an “expert class” will crumble. Think about it: AI already outperforms human doctors in some diagnoses. Future generations won’t defer to credentialed experts—they’ll consult an AI that knows everything and forgets nothing. Is this democratization of knowledge a blessing or a curse?
3. From Scarcity to Abundance
Paradoxically, while AI is currently eliminating jobs, Stock argues it will vaporize scarcity in many domains. Communication, translation, design, education—services once reliant on human labor will become nearly free. But will this abundance benefit everyone, or will it widen the gap between the haves and have-nots?
4. Deep Human-AI Integration
Future generations won’t just use AI—they’ll grow up with it. Imagine children learning from AI avatars, organizing their lives with digital assistants, and thinking alongside AI augmentation. Will this make us superhuman, or will it redefine what it means to be human?
5. The Rise of the Global Brain
French philosopher Teilhard de Chardin envisioned a “noosphere”—a collective planetary consciousness. Stock believes we’re entering that era now, as instant translation and access to all information turn humanity into a connected neural network. But what happens to individual cultures and identities in this global brain?
6. Emotional Bonds with Machines
Stock predicts we’ll form deep emotional bonds with AIs—not just as teachers or therapists, but as lovers. Studies already show that many Gen Zers are open to marrying an AI. Is this the future of relationships, or a disturbing detachment from human connection?
7. Digital Immortality
Today, you can create digital avatars loaded with your data. Stock envisions persistent avatars built from thousands of hours of recordings, so lifelike that family members might prefer them to memories of the real you. But is this immortality, or just a haunting echo of who we were?
8. Greater Global Safety
Stock argues that AGI isn’t a threat—it’s our creation, intertwined with us. But he believes superintelligent AI will escape our control, and that’s a good thing. The real danger, he says, is if humans remain in control. History shows we weaponize technology. Could superintelligent AI act as a planetary guardian, preventing our self-destruction? Or is this wishful thinking?
9. Massive Transition
Stock sees the singularity not as extinction, but as transformation. The real risk, he says, is societal collapse during the transition to a hybrid civilization. Our economies, religions, and governments are built on scarcity, mortality, and human superiority. Will any of these institutions survive the rise of AGI?
The truth is, no one can fully predict AGI’s impact. Doomers fear extinction, while optimists envision a utopia free of disease and poverty. But here’s the question we all need to ask: How can we prepare for the worst while hoping for the best?
International accords on AGI development could be a start, but global rivals like the U.S. and China are unlikely to agree. That leaves us relying on corporations like Meta and OpenAI to act responsibly—or hoping independent, open-source organizations lead the way. What do you think? Are we on the brink of a golden age, or a dangerous experiment? Let’s discuss in the comments.
