I’ve been reflecting on how technology changes and integrates into our everyday lives. Just like smartphones transitioned from being luxury devices to essential tools that everyone uses, I’m curious if superintelligent AI agents will experience a similar journey.
Currently, we utilize basic AI assistants, but what will happen when they reach true superintelligence? Could we start using these advanced AI systems as casually as we utilize our smartphones today? I can see people depending on them for intricate decision-making, solving problems, and even tackling creative endeavors.
The smartphone transformed the way we connect, work, and gather information. Might superintelligent AI agents have an even greater influence on society? I’d love to hear others’ opinions on whether this comparison holds water and what the timeline might look like for such widespread usage.
I’ve been doing enterprise software rollouts for years, and the economics here are nothing like smartphones. With phones, you paid a few hundred bucks and immediately saw the value. Done deal.
Superintelligent AI agents? They’ll need massive computational power and energy that costs serious money to run. This isn’t phone components you can mass-produce cheaply. We’re talking specialized hardware and huge ongoing operational costs.
Then there’s regulation. Governments are already freaking out over current AI - imagine their reaction to superintelligent systems. Expect years of policy fights, safety testing, and compliance red tape before anyone can deploy these widely.
I’m betting we’ll see a trickle-down approach. Big corporations and governments first, then smaller companies, finally consumers. Could easily take 15-20 years before regular people can actually afford and access this stuff - and that’s assuming we even solve the technical and safety problems.
The smartphone comparison works to a point, but superintelligent AI will be fundamentally different.
I’ve watched every major tech adoption in my career. Smartphones won because they solved clear problems - communication, navigation, entertainment. Easy learning curve.
Superintelligent AI agents? That’s like having a genius consultant 24/7. Not just an upgrade - a completely new category. Most people don’t know how to work with someone way smarter than them.
Our internal AI projects show even current models create workflow chaos that takes months to fix. True superintelligence? The integration challenge will be massive.
Adoption will be slower and messier than smartphones. Some professions will jump on it fast, but everyday casual use might take decades. The interface problem alone is huge - how do you design UX for something that outthinks its users?
Then there’s trust. People got comfortable with smartphones because they felt in control. Superintelligent agents need a different relationship that most aren’t ready for.