artificial general intelligence
/ɑːˌtɪf.ɪ.ʃəl ˈdʒen.ər.əl ɪnˈtel.ɪ.dʒəns/
RareA hypothetical AI that can learn and perform any intellectual task a human can, across all domains.
The formal term for what most people call AGI. The full phrase is used more often in academic, policy, and formal writing. In casual online conversation, people typically say AGI.
Real-world examples3 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | OpenAI's whole stated mission is to build safe artificial general intelligence. Whether that is realistic is another question. | Noting the gap between the stated goal and uncertainty about whether it is achievable. | reddit, 2024 |
| 02 | There is still no agreed definition of artificial general intelligence which makes all these announcements hard to evaluate. | The absence of a clear benchmark makes AGI claims hard to verify. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | My kid asked me what artificial general intelligence means. I told them it is what happens when computers get too smart and I have to find a new job. | A joking, simplified explanation that captures the anxiety around AGI. | reddit, 2024 |
Use it when
- Writing or speaking formally about the milestone of general AI capability.
- Distinguishing the concept from narrow AI or superintelligence in a precise way.
Do not use it when
- You are in a casual online conversation where AGI is the expected shorthand.Use “agi” instead.
- You mean current large language models.
Variations and related forms
Origin and context
Term coined to contrast with narrow or applied AI. Became prominent in academic AI safety literature in the 2000s and entered mainstream awareness as AI progress accelerated in the 2020s.
- First seen
- early-2000s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/artificial-general-intelligenceUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0