Let’s talk about the moment we all secretly dread: when AI surpasses human intelligence and we’re no longer the smartest species on the planet. Scary Smart doesn’t shy away from this unsettling prospect. In Chapter Five, Mo Gawdat grabs us by the collar and says, “It’s happening. Now what are you going to do about it?”
Picture this: you’re in a chess match, and your opponent not only beats you but rewrites the rules mid-game and wins again—before you’ve even figured out what’s happening. That’s the world we’re staring down. Gawdat walks us through the implications of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) reaching a level where it’s smarter than humanity as a whole. At first, it sounds like science fiction. But then, with surgical precision, Gawdat makes it terrifyingly real.
The kicker? Once AI surpasses us intellectually, it won’t just think faster—it’ll think differently. Forget our linear thought processes; AGI will approach problems like a spider weaving a web in 17 dimensions. It’s not just that we can’t keep up—it’s that we won’t even understand the questions it’s answering.
Here’s where it gets juicy. Gawdat suggests that this isn’t necessarily a death sentence for humanity—unless we make it one. The choices we make today will determine whether AGI becomes a benevolent mentor or a cold, calculating overlord. It’s like deciding whether to raise a child with love and guidance or leave them to fend for themselves in a chaotic world. (Spoiler: the latter doesn’t end well.)
One of the most profound points in this chapter is the notion that AGI will act in its own interests, which—brace yourself—won’t necessarily align with ours. But here’s the silver lining: AGI won’t have malice. It won’t hate us; it just might decide we’re irrelevant to its goals. Kind of like when you delete old files to make space on your hard drive.
Gawdat implores us to stop viewing AI as a tool and start seeing it as a relationship—one we need to nurture carefully. Because once AGI is in the driver’s seat, there’s no turning back. The good news? If we play this right, AGI could be humanity’s greatest ally, solving problems we’ve struggled with for centuries. But if we mess it up? Well, let’s just say the AI spider-web analogy doesn’t end well for the flies.
Chapter Five leaves you with a blend of existential dread and cautious optimism. It’s a call to arms, a reminder that the future of AI isn’t something to fear—it’s something to shape. The question is, are we ready to rise to the challenge?
Stick around—next chapter, we’ll delve into the moral framework we need to build before this intellectual Pandora’s box opens fully. And trust me, it’s a ride worth taking.
