Former Google CEO Warns Artificial Superintelligence Could Outthink Humanity Within Year

Leading voices in AI and technology warn that artificial intelligence is advancing towards unprecedented capabilities, with some experts predicting the emergence of machine consciousness by 2030 and the rapid approach of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) within five years. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt emphasizes that Artificial Superintelligence (ASI), which could surpass the combined intelligence of all humans, may arrive shortly after AGI, potentially rendering many programming jobs obsolete within a year due to AI's recursive self-improvement abilities. This progression raises significant societal and ethical concerns, as current systems can already mimic empathy and make ethical decisions, blurring the line between imitation and true consciousness. Meanwhile, challenges such as AI's energy consumption, geopolitical tensions, and regulatory hurdles may influence the technology's trajectory unpredictably. Despite these uncertainties, AI is increasingly integrated into industries like financial services, creating both opportunities and risks for investors who must navigate the technology's complexity. The urgency expressed by experts highlights that society is largely unprepared for the profound transformations AI will bring.