US Risks Falling Behind in "Real AI Race" Due to AGI Focus, Warns Steve Hsu

Washington D.C. – The United States' intense focus on achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) may be diverting critical resources and attention from the practical applications of AI, potentially causing the nation to fall behind in the global "real AI race," according to an analysis by physicist and AI entrepreneur Steve Hsu. In an article published in Foreign Affairs, Hsu argues that the pursuit of superintelligence, while captivating, overshadows the immediate and tangible advancements in applied AI that are crucial for economic and strategic competitiveness.

Hsu, a former Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at Michigan State University and co-founder of AI startup SuperFocus, contends that the current hype surrounding AGI is disproportionate to its imminent reality. He suggests that prominent technologists and policymakers have become overly fixated on the long-term goal of creating human-level or superhuman AI, neglecting the more immediate and impactful developments in specialized AI systems. This perspective, according to Hsu, is particularly relevant in the context of the ongoing technological competition with countries like China.

The article highlights that the discussion around AGI has led to policy considerations and significant investments based on the premise of its near-term arrival. Hsu points out that while AI is integral to emerging technologies such as robotics, biotechnology, and quantum computing, the "hype has grown out of proportion" regarding AGI's imminence. He implies that this misdirection could leave the U.S. vulnerable in areas where practical AI applications are already making significant strides, such as optimizing supply chains, disease diagnosis, and various industrial automation tasks.

Hsu's argument suggests that by prioritizing a distant and uncertain goal, the U.S. risks ceding ground in the development and deployment of AI technologies that offer immediate economic and strategic advantages. The piece underscores a critical debate within the AI community regarding the allocation of resources and strategic direction, urging a re-evaluation of the current approach to maintain America's leadership in the broader AI landscape.