Why are so many people suddenly obsessed with AGI? The answer lies in psychology, as artificial general intelligence carries the prospect of astounding benefits – and potential dangers – that tap into our core emotions. This emotional charge is a primary driver of the surging interest.

Hopes for a better world

For many, AGI symbolizes hope for solving humanity’s hardest problems. AI visionaries paint almost utopian scenarios if true general intelligence is achieved.

In a recent Time magazine interview, Demis Hassabis, a leading figure in AI research and co-founder of Google DeepMind, mused that AGI could usher in an era of radical abundance: “All human diseases will be a thing of the past… Energy will be free… Conflicts over resources will dissipate.”

We’ll see about those predictions, for while no technology can singlehandedly cure cancer or end poverty, AGI could become a powerful tool in addressing key contributors to these global challenges. 

In medicine, for example, AI could accelerate drug discovery, improve early detection of diseases, and help personalize treatments—complementing, not replacing, the need for better lifestyle choices and public health measures. And in addressing environmental degradation, intelligent systems might help monitor pollution, predict ecological risks and support smarter infrastructure planning. These aren’t magic fixes, but nevertheless they still would be huge.

Beyond  these reasonable possibilities, tech leaders sometimes describe AGI in more glowing terms, such as an extraordinary tool that has the potential to elevate humanity. 

Such messaging resonates with people’s longing for progress. It fuels curiosity: millions now search for updates on AGI to understand how close we are to these breakthroughs and what it could mean for their lives.

Personal possibilities spark interest

Beyond grand societal hopes, there’s a more personal form of optimism. Some are excited about how AGI might help them by automating tedious tasks, personalizing their learning through smart tutors or simply helping them make better decisions.

In countries like China, Indonesia, and Thailand, large majorities believe AI will be more beneficial than harmful overall. For these individuals, AGI is not a threat but a promise. They follow the news not with fear but with interest, asking: How can I use this to build a better future?

Deep-seated fears take root

But fear is never far behind. Anxiety about AGI runs deep, with surveys showing that public perceptions of AI are “dominated by concerns.” A 2024 UK government study  found that while awareness of AI is nearly universal, associations with the term are often negative. Fears of job loss lead the list of concerns, with privacy violations, surveillance fears and a perceived loss of human control not far behind.

Even the acronym “AGI” tends to evoke sci-fi imagery of superintelligent machines. Psychologically, it taps into ancient fears: fear of the unknown, fear of being replaced, fear of losing control over our own creations.

Over the past year, these anxieties have intensified. In May 2023, hundreds of tech leaders—including the CEOs of OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic—signed a statement warning, “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside pandemics and nuclear war.”

When Dr. Geoffrey Hinton—often called the “Godfather of AI”—resigned from Google to voice his concerns that AGI might pose an existential threat, the public took notice. 

These high-profile warnings have certainly contributed to anxieties regarding AI. It’s not surprising that Google’s People Also Ask feature now includes questions like: How close are we to AGI? Should I be afraid?

Why people feel uneasy about AI

Even short of an apocalyptic scenario, more immediate threats are on people’s minds. Job displacement looms large. Unlike past waves of automation, AGI threatens not just factory roles but also white-collar and creative work.

A recent Pew Research survey found that 43% of Americans believe AI will harm them personally (compared to just 24% who expect a benefit). And most say they’re more concerned than excited about AI’s growing influence. The common worry: Will an AGI take my job? How will I compete?

Others fear the ethical and social consequences. Doubts persist about whether AI systems can be trusted not to be misused for surveillance, deepfakes, or erratic behavior. In the UK, over half of Pew survey respondents believe AI is contributing to the spread of misinformation and see it harming employment prospects.

In this climate of uncertainty, millions are researching AGI not out of idle curiosity but as a way to stay informed, and brace for what might come.

Awe and curiosity in the middle

Still, not everyone is driven by extremes of hope or fear. For many, AGI simply sparks a deep sense of curiosity. Discussions about artificial intelligence sit at the intersection of science, philosophy, and imagination. 

AGI has become a gateway to broader conversations about consciousness, identity and the future of civilization. These are the kinds of big-picture topics that naturally attract thinkers, creators and everyday people alike.

As a result, AGI is now part of everyday discourse. People who have never read a technical paper on AI are watching YouTube explainers or skimming articles to try to get a grip on the topic and its implications, both for the planet and them personally. 

A mix of wonder and worry

In the end, the surging global interest in AGI is driven by a potent emotional mix: utopian dreams, dystopian fears, and open-ended curiosity.

Each new AI milestone, whether hopeful or alarming, throws more fuel on the fire. It is a feature of human psychology that when uncertainty meets high stakes—as in the question Will AGI save us or doom us?—people instinctively seek answers.

And that’s exactly what we’re seeing in the surge of interest in AGI.