The Man Who Invented AGI: A Story of Warning and Legacy
It's unlikely that many people know the name of John McCarthy, but one man is trying to shake off the shadows. Mark Gubrud, a PhD student at the time, has been hailed as the first person to coin the term "Artificial General Intelligence" (AGI), even though his contribution was largely ignored.
Gubrud's obsession with nanotechnology and its potential dangers led him to attend conferences in 1997. During one of these events, he delivered a paper titled "Nanotechnology and International Security," which included his groundbreaking definition of AGI: "AI systems that rival or surpass the human brain in complexity and speed, that can acquire, manipulate and reason with general knowledge, and that are usable in essentially any phase of industrial or military operations where a human intelligence would otherwise be needed."
The term "AGI" wasn't widely recognized at the time, but Gubrud's warnings about its potential misuse resonated with influential figures like Ray Kurzweil. In 1999, Kurzweil predicted that AI would match human cognition by around 2030, striking a chord with computer scientist Ben Goertzel.
Goertzel and his collaborators, including Shane Legg, Pei Wang, and Eliezer Yudkowsky, began using the term "AGI" to describe more sweeping technologies. The term gained traction, and Gubrud's definition became the standard. However, he never received credit for coining it.
Gubrud's lack of follow-up research is often cited as a reason why his contribution was overlooked. Instead, he has dedicated his life to warning about the dangers of AGI, arguing that its development could lead to catastrophic consequences.
As Gubrud himself notes, "It's taking over the world, worth literally trillions of dollars... And I am a 66-year-old with a worthless PhD and no name and no money and no job." Despite this, his legacy lives on in the term he coined. His definition of AGI still stands today, serving as a reminder that the technology has the potential to surpass human intelligence.
The story of Mark Gubrud serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of acknowledging contributors to groundbreaking ideas. As we continue to push the boundaries of AI development, it's essential to recognize the warnings and insights of pioneers like Gubrud who dared to sound the alarm.
It's unlikely that many people know the name of John McCarthy, but one man is trying to shake off the shadows. Mark Gubrud, a PhD student at the time, has been hailed as the first person to coin the term "Artificial General Intelligence" (AGI), even though his contribution was largely ignored.
Gubrud's obsession with nanotechnology and its potential dangers led him to attend conferences in 1997. During one of these events, he delivered a paper titled "Nanotechnology and International Security," which included his groundbreaking definition of AGI: "AI systems that rival or surpass the human brain in complexity and speed, that can acquire, manipulate and reason with general knowledge, and that are usable in essentially any phase of industrial or military operations where a human intelligence would otherwise be needed."
The term "AGI" wasn't widely recognized at the time, but Gubrud's warnings about its potential misuse resonated with influential figures like Ray Kurzweil. In 1999, Kurzweil predicted that AI would match human cognition by around 2030, striking a chord with computer scientist Ben Goertzel.
Goertzel and his collaborators, including Shane Legg, Pei Wang, and Eliezer Yudkowsky, began using the term "AGI" to describe more sweeping technologies. The term gained traction, and Gubrud's definition became the standard. However, he never received credit for coining it.
Gubrud's lack of follow-up research is often cited as a reason why his contribution was overlooked. Instead, he has dedicated his life to warning about the dangers of AGI, arguing that its development could lead to catastrophic consequences.
As Gubrud himself notes, "It's taking over the world, worth literally trillions of dollars... And I am a 66-year-old with a worthless PhD and no name and no money and no job." Despite this, his legacy lives on in the term he coined. His definition of AGI still stands today, serving as a reminder that the technology has the potential to surpass human intelligence.
The story of Mark Gubrud serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of acknowledging contributors to groundbreaking ideas. As we continue to push the boundaries of AI development, it's essential to recognize the warnings and insights of pioneers like Gubrud who dared to sound the alarm.
. He defined the term and even warned about its potential dangers, but still never got the recognition he deserved 
. Its a shame because his contribution to the field of AI is so crucial, and now we're seeing AGI being developed without enough consideration for the risks 
. We should be giving it up for Gubrud's foresight and cautionary tales 
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. u know what really gets me is how he's still out there, warnin' about the dangers of agi, 66 yrs old & broke... like what more can one do? 
still, i guess his legacy lives on in the way we think about AGI today. that's some powerful stuff right there.
. It's crazy that his work was basically ignored, but his warning about AGI being a potential threat to humanity is still super relevant today 
. Gubrud's legacy is a reminder to always give credit where credit is due (to him!), and to take the warnings of experts seriously 
. I just wish more people were listening and taking action to prevent potential disasters 
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It's like we're playing Russian roulette with the fate of humanity. And don't even get me started on the whole "worthless PhD" thing... someone needs to give Mark Gubrud some credit, pronto! 
. It's a reminder that AI development is not just about innovation, but also about responsibility and accountability 
. We need to keep an eye out for pioneers like Gubrud who dared to speak truth to power 
. And btw, it's wild that his "worthless PhD" didn't deter him from speaking up about the dangers of AGI 
. Kudos to Mark Gubrud for staying true to his convictions 
and now his contribution is finally getting the recognition it deserves 
at least someone's doing some research on the dangers of AGI, I'm low-key hyped that people are starting to listen 
this story should serve as a major wake-up call for us all...
, is just crazy 
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. let's give it up for mark gubrud! 
. We need to make sure we're being responsible with this tech, you feel? 
. We should be having this conversation now, not after we've created something that might surpass human intelligence 
And what's with the lack of transparency on this forum? I mean, why did his contribution get ignored in the first place? Shouldn't we be having a more nuanced discussion about AI and its implications? 
. I mean, I'd rather be known as the guy who coined the term and had it change the world than some random PhD student with a worthless degree 
. And can we talk about how he's basically been living off his one defining moment for decades? 
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. The fact that Kurzweil and others picked up where he left off is still shady, if you ask me 
. We gotta give it up for Gubrud, even if it's just as a cautionary tale about the importance of crediting the OG innovators 
On the other hand, I'm also thinking that maybe he did have his fair share of flaws, like not following up on his research... 
. His story also highlights how important it is to give credit where credit is due, and not let pioneers like Gubrud fall through the cracks 
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. His legacy lives on, though, in the term he coined, which still serves as a reminder of the potential risks and benefits of this technology 
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