What it is

Artificial general intelligence (AGI) is the hypothetical point where AI can do anything a human brain can do. Not just one thing really well, but everything: reason, plan, learn new skills on the fly, understand context, crack jokes that are actually funny. We're not there. Current AI is very good at specific tasks but can't generalise the way humans do. Whether AGI is five years away or fifty is the subject of approximately nine million arguments on the internet.

Why it matters for your job

AGI is mostly a distraction when it comes to your career planning. The AI that exists right now, today, the imperfect stuff, is already changing job markets. Worrying about AGI is like worrying about a meteor while ignoring the flood at your front door. The practical threat (and opportunity) is the narrow AI that's already here and getting better every few months.

What to do about it

Don't lose sleep over AGI timelines. Focus on the AI tools that exist now and how they affect your specific role. That's actionable. Debating when machines will achieve consciousness is interesting at dinner parties but won't help you keep your job.