Zuckerberg wants AGI. Personal superintelligence, he calls it. An AI that essentially runs your life. Sounds convenient, right? Maybe. But let's be brutally honest: entrusting the keys to your existence to a single, centralized entity – especially one with Zuckerberg's track record – is a recipe for disaster. Well, it’s not just my opinion, it’s a deep gut feeling of everyone out there who sees the value of freedom and autonomy.

Centralization Threatens AGI's Potential?

We're talking about Artificial General Intelligence here. It’s not another algorithm designed to hawk you more advertisements. Imagine an AGI that could transform everything from our health to our energy. That potential is beaten down before it ever gets off the ground if one company is allowed to monopolize its buildout. When making a buck and exerting control becomes the priority over using technology to improve lives, that’s when innovation gets stifled.

Think about it. Zuckerberg’s Meta already has a stranglehold on the social media industry. They know your preferences, they know your phobias, they know your social graph. Now imagine living with that same degree of surveillance across all aspects of your life. An AI that’s one step ahead of you, anticipating your needs in a way you haven’t even thought to ask yet. It's convenient, yes, but it's terrifying. We're talking about a level of control King Louis XIV could only dream of, and as Elon Musk pointed out, the comparison isn't far off.

Meta's history speaks for itself. Remember the Metaverse? Billions flooded in to create an immersive version of a new world that, if we’re being real, no one asked for. Miserable avatars, soulless worlds and a palpable absence of fun. It was a top down, technocratic vision of the future that was just way off base. Now, he’s hoping to win our trust—in the same way as a credible politician—for something much, much more powerful. This can truly change the whole paradigm of our communities! Color me skeptical.

Open Source AGI: A Better Path?

There's a better way. A decentralized way. Now picture that same AGI created by a worldwide cadre of collaborative researchers, engineers, and ethicists, working together in the open. An AGI that's transparent, auditable, and accountable to the people it serves, not to a single corporation's bottom line.

This is where open-source initiatives come in. To its credit, Meta has released several of its large language models as open-source. That's a step in the right direction. But it's not enough. Open-sourcing some components of AGI is a really cool step in that direction. The real promise comes from taking a decentralized, more grassroots approach to building out the whole system.

Think of blockchain technology. It's a decentralized ledger that's revolutionized finance. It's transparent, secure, and resistant to censorship. Now picture doing the same in AGI development. You could have an AGI with open code that anyone can review. It incorporates publicly available training data and provides for the explainability and auditability of its decisions.

This isn't some utopian fantasy. It's a real possibility. And frankly speaking, it’s the only way to put an AGI to use for the benefit of all mankind, rather than a privileged few.

Your Future, Your Choice: Control vs. Freedom

The future of AGI is not predetermined. How we choose to move today will shape tomorrow’s reality for generations to come. The future we want is in our hands. Do we really want a future where our everyday lives are dictated by the whims of a few companies who have extreme monopolistic power? Or instead, a future where the technology we develop strengthens people’s control over their lives, supports their freedom and autonomy. The choice is ours. Don't let Zuckerberg decide for you.

  • Be informed: Stay up-to-date on the latest developments in AGI and the debates surrounding its development.
  • Support open-source initiatives: Contribute to open-source AGI projects, or simply donate to organizations that are working to promote decentralized AI.
  • Demand transparency: Call on governments and corporations to be more transparent about their AI efforts.
  • Think critically: Question the narratives being pushed by Big Tech companies, and don't be afraid to challenge the status quo.

The future of AGI is not predetermined. It's up to us to decide what kind of future we want. Do we want a future where our lives are controlled by a handful of powerful corporations? Or do we want a future where technology empowers individuals and promotes freedom and autonomy? The choice is ours. Don't let Zuckerberg decide for you.