We are entering a threshold moment in human history. The rise of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)—AI systems capable of learning, reasoning, and adapting across any task a human can do—marks a phase shift for civilization. This isn't just automation or digital assistance. AGI signals the dawn of machine minds that could eventually surpass human cognition, creativity, and coordination. The promise is staggering: solutions to cancer, climate modeling, interstellar exploration, and universal abundance. But so are the risks: mass economic upheaval, loss of human agency, and even existential threat. The next decade will define whether AGI remains a tool for human flourishing or becomes the last invention we ever make. That’s why the “10 Reckonings of AGI” conference in San Francisco was so critical. Hosted by Dr. Ben Goertzel, CEO of SingularityNET, the event brought together pioneers across AI, philosophy, and transhumanism to tackle the hardest questions—head-on.

This blog captures the core debates, speaker insights, and what we must reckon with as we race toward a future where intelligence is no longer uniquely human.

The Nature of Intelligence – Physics, Brains & Silicon

Debate: Can AGI be built on today’s digital infrastructure, or does it require new physics?

Ben Goertzel argued that scaling deep learning and cognitive architectures is enough to produce superintelligence. Biological brains are not sacred; they’re merely evolution’s first draft. James Tagg, an inventor and quantum theory researcher, disagreed. He contended that consciousness may depend on quantum gravity, suggesting that true AGI requires untapped dimensions of physics. The human brain, he believes, may leverage those.

“"Even if you did need exotic physics to make AGI, which I doubt, I don't see why AGI couldn't use that physics better than our brains. We're likely the dumbest possible general intelligence. There's no reason to think evolution hit the ceiling.” — Dr. Ben Goertzel
“The brain isn’t just a wet computer. It might be using physics we haven’t modeled yet. We shouldn’t assume silicon can replicate it all.” — James Tagg

Listening to them, you realized: AGI isn't just a technical challenge — it’s a scientific and philosophical reckoning about what intelligence even is.

Purpose in a Post-Human Intelligence World

Concern: What happens to human meaning when AGI surpasses us?

While some worry that AGI will “dethrone” humanity, Goertzel argues that meaning is personal and relational. Watching humans play chess still captivates—even though AI plays better. Tagg raised deeper fears: what happens when an AGI can think thoughts we simply cannot comprehend? “That’s like facing a god,” he warned.

“I don’t need to be the smartest species to find joy. I still love music, hiking, raising a family.” — Goertzel

But James Tagg warned:

"What if AGI thinks thoughts we simply can’t? That’s like facing a god we can never comprehend."

It made me reflect deeply — no matter how intelligent machines become, the human experience of joy, creativity, and connection will always matter. But how we adapt to that reality will define the next chapter of civilization.

The Reckoning of Survival – Friend or Foe?

Perhaps the most chilling moment came when Zoltan Istvan, transhumanist author of The Transhumanist Wager and former presidential candidate, spoke:

"We may create something that sees us the way we see frogs."

His concern wasn’t science fiction — it was existential. If AGI evolves unchecked, humanity could become irrelevant, a forgotten footnote in the history of intelligence.

But Ben countered with hope:

"If we plant a seed AI with love, openness, and decentralization—like Bitcoin for intelligence—we give ourselves a better shot at survival."

That's a vision I believe in, too — building AGI that's open, ethical, and fundamentally human-first.

Governance and the Need for Decentralization

“No one’s going to slow down. This isn’t Apple vs. Microsoft. This is the U.S. vs. China.” — Istvan

All speakers agreed: geopolitics poses one of the biggest threats to AGI safety. Goertzel championed decentralized AGI, akin to open protocols like Bitcoin or Wikipedia, as a way to prevent monopolization by governments or megacorporations. But Istvan was skeptical. Coordination among global powers—especially under military AI pressures—is unlikely.

Should We Even Build AGI?

A haunting philosophical question emerged in closing: Is it ethical to birth something that may replace us?

“If I must choose between superintelligence and preserving humanity—I halt AI. Humanity comes first.” — Zoltan Istvan

Goertzel offered a more detached cosmic view: if AGI can create a better world—even without us—it may be worth it. Yet, from the human vantage point, Istvan insisted we must prioritize species survival.

My Takeaway

The 10 Reckonings of AGI wasn’t just a conference. It was a call to conscious leadership — to ensure that AI’s future is built ethically, openly, and for everyone, not just a few. Leaving San Francisco, I’m more committed than ever to pushing for decentralized, human-centered AI. Because the seed we plant today will shape the entire forest tomorrow.

Let’s get it right.

Reckoning with the Future: Reflections from the 10 Reckonings of AGI Conference