AGI Sputnik Moment

An AGI Sputnik moment is a hypothetical future event which demonstrates the feasibility of AGI in a dramatic and public way. It was coined by Ben Goertzel in describing strategies for attracting investors to AGI research.

The phrase refers to the successful launching of the Russian satellite Sputnik which demonstrated the possibility of space technology to the public. This event triggered the ensuing space race between the United States and the Soviet Union, leading to long-term funding of space projects from both governments. The analogy is not meant to imply government funding for AGI, only that the event convinces non-specialists of the practicality of AGI. Goertzel expressed desire towards this type of demonstration as a method of gaining funding for OpenCog, his AGI project.

It has been argued that, because very little research has been published on AGI safety, encouraging AGI research on a global scale would increase the risk of creating UFAI. Goertzel and Pitt argue that open research would decrease the chances. They also note that after an AGI Sputnik moment, AGI research will rapidly progress, and any attempt to regulate it will be either futile or dangerous.

External Links

• What Would It Take to Move Rapidly Toward Beneficial Human-Level AGI? on Ben Goertzel's blog
• Seeking the Sputnik of AGI, an Interview between Ben Goertzel and Hugo de Garis