According to MIT Technology Review, artificial general intelligence has evolved into something resembling a conspiracy theory, with believers convinced it’s just two to five years away and will either solve humanity’s biggest problems or bring about apocalyptic consequences. The publication argues AGI represents the most consequential “conspiracy theory” of our time, part of a broader pattern where people become convinced they’re living through a historic before-and-after moment. Meanwhile, in the global AI race, China appears positioned to emerge as the 21st century’s AI superpower despite Western assumptions about American semiconductor and research advantages. China now has the means, motive, and opportunity to win through its ability to mobilize entire societal resources toward AI development and deployment.
Sponsored content — provided for informational and promotional purposes.
The AGI Myth We Can’t Stop Believing
Here’s the thing about AGI – we keep hearing it’s just around the corner, but what if we’re fundamentally misunderstanding what intelligence actually is? The whole concept feels less like science and more like religion at this point. People talk about AGI with the same certainty that doomsday cult members discuss the coming rapture. And honestly, when you step back, doesn’t it seem convenient that this magical technology is always “a few years away” but never actually arrives?
I think part of the appeal is that AGI gives us a simple narrative in a complex world. Either we’re heading toward utopia or extinction – no messy middle ground. But what if the reality is that intelligence is way more complicated than we imagine? What if we’re chasing a phantom that keeps receding as we approach it? The tech industry loves big, simple stories, and AGI might be the biggest, simplest story of them all.
<h2 id="china-ai-race”>Why China’s AI Ascent Looks Inevitable
Now let’s talk about the actual, tangible competition happening right now. While we’re obsessing over hypothetical AGI, China is methodically building real AI capabilities. The West keeps pointing to our semiconductor lead and research institutions, but that feels like celebrating yesterday’s victories. China’s whole-of-society approach means they can direct resources at scales we can barely comprehend.
Think about it – when a government can mobilize entire industries, educational systems, and population toward a single technological goal, that’s a competitive advantage capitalism can’t easily match. We’re playing chess while they’re playing a different game entirely. And given China’s track record with infrastructure and manufacturing dominance, betting against their AI ambitions seems increasingly risky. They’re not waiting for some magical AGI breakthrough – they’re building practical AI systems that work right now.
Basically, we might be so focused on the sci-fi future that we’re missing the real technological revolution happening in plain sight. The AGI conversation distracts from the concrete advances that will actually shape the coming decades. And if China wins the practical AI race, does it even matter who eventually develops AGI?
