The Digital Press

The article argues that America's focus on achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) may be misguided and could cause it to fall behind China in the practical adoption and integration of current AI technologies. Instead of chasing a possibly mythical superintelligence, the U.S. should prioritize steady AI improvements and broad deployment to maintain leadership in real-world AI applications.

Why it matters: Overemphasizing AGI risks diverting resources from practical AI adoption, allowing China to surpass the U.S. in robotics and AI integration.

The big picture: AI progress is likely incremental and multifaceted, not a sudden leap to superintelligence; broad adoption drives economic and military advantage.

The stakes: Neglecting near-term AI deployment could cause the U.S. to lose competitiveness despite leading in algorithm development.

Commenters say: Many criticize the article for lacking concrete reasons why AGI pursuit hinders practical AI, noting China's open AI development and the difficulty of real-world robotics applications.