How AGI Became the Most Consequential Conspiracy Theory of Our Time

Why It Matters

The AGI hype directs billions of dollars of capital, shapes regulatory agendas, and fuels public anxiety, potentially misguiding investors and policymakers away from concrete AI challenges. Recognizing its conspiratorial dynamics is essential for realistic governance and market stability.

Summary

The MIT Technology Review article frames artificial general intelligence (AGI) as the most consequential conspiracy theory of our time, noting how its promise of near‑human intelligence fuels both utopian hype and apocalyptic fear among Silicon Valley leaders. It traces the term’s origins, highlights CEOs such as Ilya Sutskever, Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis and Elon Musk who market AGI as a transformative or existential threat, and shows how this narrative drives massive investment in data centers, startups and stock valuations despite the technology not yet existing. By treating AGI as a quasi‑myth, the piece argues the industry obscures real technical limits and risks, while inflating market expectations. The author calls for a more evidence‑based view to cut through the techno‑utopian fever dream.