By Tyler Kelley
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) - it’s the stuff of science fiction, right?
Super-intelligent machines that can think, reason, and create just like humans. But what if I told you that AGI might be knocking on our door sooner than you think? And that it could fundamentally reshape the business landscape as we know it?
First, let’s define AGI. It’s the holy grail of AI research - a machine that can perform any intellectual task that a human can. We’re not talking about narrow AI that can beat you at chess or write a snappy ad copy. We’re talking about a system that can learn, adapt, and apply its intelligence to any domain. A machine that can innovate, strategize, and make decisions like a human. Or, perhaps, even better than a human.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. AGI is decades away, right? A far-off dream that we might achieve someday, but certainly not in our lifetimes. Well, think again. OpenAI, one of the leading AI research organizations, believes that AGI could be here within the next three years. Three years. Let that sink in.
If OpenAI is right, and they have a pretty good track record, AGI will arrive on our doorstep before we’ve even fully grappled with the implications of narrow AI. And make no mistake, the implications are profound, especially for small businesses.
Imagine a world where your biggest competitor isn’t the shop down the street or the big box store in the mall. It’s an AGI-powered company that can outthink,
outmaneuver, and outperform you at every turn. A company that can:
1. Innovate at light speed: AGI could ideate, design, and prototype new products and services faster than any human team.
2. Optimize to perfection: AGI could analyze vast amounts of data to make perfect decisions about pricing, marketing, operations, and more.
3. Provide unparalleled service: AGI could offer 24/7 customer support, perfectly tailored to each individual, in any language.
4. Disrupt industries: AGI could identify and capitalize on business opportunities that no human could ever spot.
In the face of such a competitor, many small businesses might simply crumble. The mom-and-pop shops, the artisanal craftsmen, the local service providers - they could all become relics of a pre-AGI era.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Small businesses can thrive in the age of AGI, but only if they start preparing now. Here’s how:
1. Focus on your unique value: What do you offer that an AGI can’t? Lean into your community ties, your personal touch, your artistry.
2. Embrace AI tools: Start using narrow AI to streamline your business, so you’re ready for AGI when it arrives. Automate where you can, so you can focus on where you can’t.
3. Upskill your team: Invest in AI literacy for your employees. Help them understand how to work with AI, not against it.
4. Advocate for policies: Support regulations that ensure AGI benefits everyone, not just the tech giants. Fight for your seat at the table.
The arrival of AGI will mark a turning point in human history. It will redefine what’s possible and what’s valuable. Small businesses that adapt will thrive in this new world. Those that don’t, won’t.
The clock is ticking. AGI is coming, whether we’re ready or not. The question is, will you be the disruptor, or the disrupted? The choice is yours, but you have to make it now. The future waits for no one.
Tyler Kelley is the Co-founder and Chief Strategist of SLAM! Agency, where he helps mission-driven organizations and innovative businesses amplify their impact to drive meaningful change. In this column, Tyler provides actionable insights to help businesses and leaders navigate our increasingly AI-driven world.