Preparing for AGI: What businesses need to know to stay ahead of the curve

AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) has become a highly debated topic, with many polarised opinions. AI enthusiasts find the idea of machines thinking like humans fascinating, but there are also those who raise alarms and find this prospect concerning. Previous surveys indicate that a little over 50% of respondents feel more concerned than excited at the prospects of a greater AI role in their daily lives.

That said, AI technology is advancing – that is undeniable. And as we move forward, the need to understand AGI’s implications and prepare for them will only grow. How close are we to actually seeing AGI implemented? What role is it going to play? In this article, I would like to share some of my thoughts on this topic.

How Real is AGI’s Promise?

To put it simply, AGI is indeed something that can be achieved. We can draw a parallel with the human brain here: at its core, it functions like a very advanced biological computer. What AGI does is, essentially, replicate this level of cognition in machine form, so it’s simply a matter of time and computational power before we get there.

Some members of this market believe that we will already be able to see traces of AGI in 2025. Personally, though, I find that a bit on the optimistic side. AI models and hardware have been advancing, yes, but there is still a lot of polishing up to do. I would say that expecting AGI within the next 5–7 years is a more realistic projection.

And when it arrives, great societal change is bound to follow. Let’s rewind time a bit and consider how smartphones and the internet have evolved from the early 2000s to modern times. As global society became increasingly digitised, they went from curious novelties to an essential part of our daily lives. Given the sheer variety of services that can be accessed via a smartphone, it’s nearly impossible to imagine how we would function without them.

I believe it’s very likely that AGI will follow a similar path and entrench itself deeply in our day-to-day lives. In fact, AGI’s potential could actually surpass the internet’s when it comes to accessing information. Consider this: in the past, we had to manually sift through search results to find the information we needed, but today, tools like ChatGPT can instantly provide tailored answers, depending on what you ask for. No more need to waste time on manual searches. In the information-based society, this is practically a goldmine of opportunities.

What Transformations Will the Job Market See?

Even before AI gained the prominence it had in the past few years, there was a widespread fear that it would take jobs away, leaving humans behind. The more recent assumption had been that it would take over repetitive tasks, with human workers focusing on the more creative side of things. 

However, as irony would have it, creative fields were among the first to experience AI’s influence. From writing to music composition and illustration, many human creators today are feeling pressured by this technology. When AGI comes along, things will likely take an even bigger turn, but it doesn’t have to be all bad. Human creators can learn to work side-by-side with AGI, using it to brainstorm ideas and refine their works.

Programming is another area that’s bound to see a major transformation, as AGI will challenge professionals to move beyond routine tasks and focus on big-picture thinking. While repetitive aspects of creative processes may be automated, pushing boundaries and testing innovative ideas will remain the domain of human ingenuity.

This will likely be true across all industries: AGI will handle many technical tasks with ease, so product thinking will come to mean more than having specialised technical skills. Meanwhile, professionals who can effectively harness AGI systems and use them to achieve specific goals within broader strategies will be in high demand.

Preparing Businesses for AGI’s Arrival

When AGI becomes mainstream, it’s going to massively speed up business innovation. Machines, unlike humans, don’t require breaks or holidays, nor do they get sick. This makes them a very powerful instrument, and for business owners, this can be both good and bad. 

On the positive side, you can harness this technology to massively boost your efficiency. But the drawback is that your competitors will likely be just as eager to adopt AGI, aiming to outpace you.

To stay ahead, businesses must begin preparing now. Investing in employee training and integrating AI into daily workflows will help position organisations to seamlessly adopt AGI when it arrives. If your teams already know how to treat AI as a normal tool in their work, much like a computer, they will be better equipped to leverage its full potential.

Learning how to live in the AGI age will come down to adaptability: those who embrace AGI and prepare for its integration will lead the way, while those who resist will likely find themselves left behind.

Author

Roman Eloshvili, founder of ComplyControl, a UK company specialising in cutting-edge technology solutions for banks. Eloshvili is a C-level executive with an extensive background in developing fintech solutions for banks.