How AGI became the most consequential conspiracy theory of our time
The article argues that AGI (artificial general intelligence) functions as a consequential conspiracy theory rather than a grounded technological prediction, particularly because it doesn't actually exist yet but has become the dominant narrative justifying massive corporate investments, infrastructure spending, and policy decisions across the tech industry. Like traditional conspiracy theories, AGI discourse exhibits apocalyptic thinking and unshakeable faith in an imminent "before and after" moment, with leading figures like OpenAI's Ilya Sutskever simultaneously building toward the technology while expressing existential terror about its potential dangers. This combination of hype, mystical language, and enormous financial stakes makes AGI arguably the most consequential conspiracy theory of the current era.
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