AGI on the Horizon: Time to Wake Up?
Why HR and leaders can't afford to hit snooze on AI disruption
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Happy Tuesday,
Took a trip down memory lane the other day and read the first article I wrote about AI. Some of the principles I’ve talked about in that article still holds true but it’s marvellous to see that so much has happened, yet so little has happened.
Little did I know at the time that the article itself would spark me into talking with organisations across the globe on how they use AI. It’s given me a window into some of the world’s most prominent companies people strategies (and AI strategies as well).
Wild times but fun times!
Today’s article is also something I’ve written about in the past, in various shapes or form. It’s also partly what I talked about at HR Tech.
Let’s get to it.
Listen to the article - powered by ElevenLabs - try it for free here.
”What if?" is a question we should ask ourselves more often.
What if Deep Research represents the first step toward replacing all manual tasks related to compiling sources?
What if agents calling candidates mark the initial step toward making all recruiters redundant?
What if ManusAI demonstrates a future where all tasks performed on a screen will eventually be handled by AI?
While most organizations view AI as an enhancement layer—a "sprinkle of AI on top" of existing processes—I'm observing something far more transformative. The evidence for a fundamental shift is already here, but most are choosing not to see it.
ChatGPT Operator, Claude Computer-Use, ManusAI, Deep Research, and AI calling capabilities aren't just augmenting human work—they're replacing it. These tools don't merely assist us; they execute complete tasks that previously required human judgment, creativity, and decision-making.
What's most concerning is that these aren't hypothetical scenarios or research prototypes. These are functioning technologies being deployed today.
The leaders are telling us what's coming
Reports are increasingly suggesting that AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) is no longer merely a hypothetical scenario but a realistic one.
Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, has written that "systems that start to point to AGI are coming into view."
Demis Hassabis, chief executive of Google DeepMind, believes AGI is probably "three to five years away."
Dario Amodei, chief executive of Anthropic (who isn't fond of the term AGI but agrees with its underlying concept), recently stated he believes we're one or two years from having "a very large number of AI systems significantly smarter than humans in almost every aspect."
The people building these systems aren't speaking in decades anymore.
They're speaking in years—or even months. (I think it’s years.)
The disruption pattern we're missing
The transformation won't begin in established companies. It's already starting with nimble startups and incumbents leveraging tools like Cursor, Replit, Bolt, and Lovable to iterate and develop at speeds traditional organizations cannot match.
These AI-augmented companies will operate with fundamentally different structures—fewer people, more AI—while delivering superior outcomes at lower price points. This creates a competitive advantage that will force established players to either rapidly adapt or become obsolete.
We will not just see efficiency improvements; we will witness the emergence of a new business models that makes traditional human-centered work economically unviable in many sectors.
Reconsidering human value
We naturally overestimate human value because we're biased toward our own species. But many professional tasks are just that—tasks. Does it matter whether code is written by a person or an AI? The output is what counts, and increasingly, AI can deliver equal or better results.
As voice models and emotional intelligence capabilities continue to advance, even our assumptions about uniquely human qualities like empathy and connection are being challenged. This doesn't mean humans lack value, but it does mean we need to radically reconsider where that value lies.
The preparation most aren't making
If this scenario unfolds—that AI takes over a significant portion of our jobs—what would you do differently today?
Would you carry on as though nothing were amiss?
Would you start educating yourself about AI?
Initiate conversations about ethics within your organization?
I believe we should act as if this scenario is inevitable and behave accordingly. We should:
Ruthlessly evaluate which functions in our organizations are most vulnerable to AI replacement
Develop transition strategies for affected employees before the disruption occurs
Experiment with AI-native workflows rather than just adding AI to existing processes
Foster the human connections and capabilities that might remain valuable
We don't plan for our houses to burn down, yet we still install smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and fire blankets—just in case. We need to take similar precautions with AI, but on an organizational scale. We must prepare as if AI could replace us.
Perhaps this future won't materialize as quickly as I predict; if that's the case, no harm done. We'll have simply made our organizations more prepared, more adaptable, and perhaps a bit more aware of both our strengths and limitations as humans in an increasingly AI-powered world.
But if I'm right, the cost of ignoring these signals will be devastating for organizations and individuals alike.