Intelligence Explosion
The concept of an intelligence explosion refers to a hypothetical scenario where an artificial general intelligence (AGI) system could improve its own capabilities and design increasingly advanced versions of itself without human intervention. This process of recursive self-improvement could theoretically lead to the AGI reaching a level of intelligence far beyond human intellect, termed artificial superintelligence (ASI).
The speed and implications of this growth are unpredictable and could result in significant changes to human civilization. The term is closely associated with the idea of the technological singularity, a point at which technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting in unforeseeable changes to human society.
An example of how an intelligence explosion might begin is with an AGI system designed for AI research. If this system were to reach a level of intelligence where it could understand its own design and improve upon it, it could start an iterative process of self-enhancement. With each cycle, it would increase its intelligence, allowing it to make even more significant improvements in the next cycle, potentially leading to rapid growth in intelligence.
This concept is often discussed in theoretical and speculative contexts within AI safety and futurism, as it raises important considerations for the ethical and safe development of advanced AI systems, ensuring that their goals align with human values and interests.