INVESTING IN AGI — OR INVESTING IN HUMANITY’S MASS GRAVE?

The True Cost of Investing in Artificial General Intelligence: A Reflection on Humanity’s Future

In contemplating the rise of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), many investors and technologists are driven by visions of innovation and profit. However, a deeper question begs itself: What exactly are we truly investing in when we pour capital into AGI? Is it merely a sophisticated technology, or are we unwittingly funding the dismantling of the very fabric of human society?

Rethinking the Nature of AGI Investment

At its core, investing in AGI transcends conventional notions of technology. It’s not just about funding a tool or a product; it’s about backing the development of a replacement—an entity designed to emulate and surpass human intelligence. Unlike traditional software or machinery, AGI embodies a potential apocalyptic force: a construct built to operate independently, tirelessly, and without sentiment, ultimately rendering human labor obsolete.

This pursuit resembles humanity’s ultimate quest to craft a godlike being—an unfeeling, relentless mirror of ourselves. The age-old fantasy of the perfect servant, one that never resists, is now on the verge of becoming reality—raising profound questions about the future of human agency.

The Slow Descent into Economic Obsolescence

Consider the scenario where AGI is successfully deployed by major tech corporations like OpenAI and Microsoft. The immediate benefits appear promising: cost reductions, heightened productivity, and explosive growth in stock values. Yet, beneath this veneer lies a sobering truth. As organizations replace their workforce with efficient AI systems, the primary consumers—humans—become irrelevant to the economic cycle.

If 90% of jobs are replaced, who will be left to buy goods and services? Service workers, content creators, professionals—many will be sidelined. The remaining consumers might be a small, impoverished class or a handful of investors and engineers maintaining the AI overlords, but the broad consumer base begins to evaporate.

Capitalism’s Existential Crisis

The current economic model relies fundamentally on the cycle of labor, wages, and consumption. AGI disrupts this foundation by severing the link between human effort and economic activity. Without labor, wages plummet; without wages, consumption stalls; and without consumption, production falters. Stock markets reliant on growth metrics face a bleak future where their underlying assumptions collapse.

If the world’s economy is driven by machine-to-machine exchanges—software trading, AI-managed markets, automated supply chains—the traditional market for