Before AGI

Aleksander Mądry

Artificial General Intelligence — the type of AI that reaches or even surpasses human capabilities — is an exciting topic. But what is not explored as much is an equally important question: what happens before AGI is here? That is, what should we be doing to prepare? In Before AGI, I hope to have honest conversations about what are the goals, what are the problems, and what lies ahead as we develop AI.

Categories: Technology

Listen to the last episode:

As AI becomes more integrated into daily life, it raises urgent questions about trust, accountability, and human agency. What happens when people over-rely on AI or when helpful tools are held back by perfectionism? Can we deploy imperfect systems while still earning public confidence?

Reid Hoffman, Co-Author of “Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future,” joins this episode to explore how AI can enhance, not replace, human judgment. He discusses democratic leadership, global competition, and the design choices that shape user agency. Reid also shares his perspective on long-term AI investment beyond short-term hype.

03:00 - Superagency and human-centered design

17:27 - Risk, regulation, and collective action

21:42 - Rethinking agency in the age of agents

31:18 - Trust, regulation, and system design

55:09 - Building trust through real-world AI benefits

1:06:07 - China’s ambition and multipolar competition

1:09:00 - Investing in applied AI with real impact

1:14:00 - Reid’s hope for AI engagement