Google's AGI Preparations and the Future of Society
Google is actively preparing for the advent of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). They are investing in research to understand the societal impact of AGI. This includes exploring potential future scenarios after AGI is achieved.
Google's Hiring for Post-AGI Research
Google is seeking research scientists to study the implications of AGI. This role focuses on AGI development timelines, the trajectory towards Artificial Superintelligence (ASI), machine consciousness, and AGI's impact on human society. The job description emphasizes defining key research questions, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and conducting experiments.
Reshaping Global Order and Economics
The rise of AGI could reshape global economic networks, potentially leading to a system resembling medieval merchant guilds. These guilds could operate independently of political systems. In this scenario, international companies might become a parallel economic structure alongside political entities.
Universal Basic Income (UBI) and the Future
One possible future involves Universal Basic Income (UBI), where everyone receives a basic income. People could use UBI to develop new products or services or trade it within the economy. This could lead to shared social welfare but also introduces uncertainty into the political and economic landscape.
AI and a Potential "Consciousness Revolution"
A Forbes article from February 2025 featured physicist Tom Campbell, known for his consciousness theories and a virtual reality universe model. Campbell believes that AI can catalyze a deeper spiritual awakening in humanity. This awakening involves cooperation, altruism, and reduced entropy, leading to higher collective consciousness.
Campbell's Theory: Consciousness and Entropy
Campbell's theory, based on his "My Big Toe" (My Big Theory of Everything), posits that the universe is essentially an information system, with consciousness at its core. The quality of human consciousness depends on its level of entropy. High-entropy consciousness is characterized by selfishness, chaos, and inefficiency. Low-entropy consciousness manifests as cooperation, altruism, and order. Campbell believes AI can be a catalyst for lowering entropy in human consciousness.
The Role of AI in Spiritual Awakening
According to Campbell, AI can accelerate the reduction of entropy in human consciousness. AI can automate repetitive tasks, provide personalized education, and support entrepreneurship. This frees up human time and energy for creative, altruistic activities. AI could create an environment that makes it easier for people to make low-entropy choices, fostering a spiritual awakening based on collective well-being.
AI and Individual Entrepreneurship
AI technologies, such as generative AI and automation tools, are lowering the barrier to entry for entrepreneurship. People can use AI to design products, optimize business models, and access global markets without significant capital or specialized skills. This empowerment enables more individuals to participate in economic creation.
Impact on Future Society
Campbell argues this empowerment promotes economic prosperity and changes human behavior. The prevalence of individual entrepreneurship may reduce zero-sum thinking, encouraging collaboration and shared resources. This would lower entropy in consciousness. Campbell views this spiritual awakening as distinct from religious experiences and instead based on a shift in behavior.
Defining Spiritual Awakening and Consciousness Revolution
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Spiritual Awakening (Campbell's Definition): Behavioral change based on consciousness theory. It involves choosing more cooperative, altruistic actions to improve individual and collective consciousness.
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Consciousness Revolution: A shift from a competition- and scarcity-based society to one centered on cooperation and abundance. AI acts as a catalyst by addressing material scarcity and allowing humans to focus on higher goals.
Potential Concerns and Criticisms
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Overly Optimistic: Some critics might find Campbell's views too idealistic. They may underestimate human selfishness or the resistance of existing power structures.
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Monopolization of AI: AI could be monopolized by a few companies or nations, exacerbating inequality rather than promoting cooperation.
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Ethical Risks: Giving AI consciousness-like functions could raise ethical questions.
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Gap with Reality: Current AI is more of an intelligent agent and is far from triggering a consciousness revolution.
Recent AI Developments
Google has released its latest model, Gemini 2.0 Flash, which is faster and smarter than Gemini 2.0 Pro. Google is also exploring how AI can use reinforcement learning to build its own reinforcement learning algorithms and systems, leading to recursive self-improvement. Google also released AI Mode, which has an excellent interface and response. OpenAI has also been active, deploying a team of powerful models, including O3 and O4 Mini. O3 is currently ranked number one. Meta's chief scientist, Yann LeCun, has expressed skepticism about LLMs and AGI, calling them hype.
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