Impact of Tech CEOs' Race for Artificial General Intelligence on Consumers and Developers

Fred Hickey, editor of The High-Tech Strategist, posted on X about the ongoing competition among tech CEOs to achieve artificial general intelligence (AGI). This pursuit has led to significant shortages in electronic components, particularly semiconductor memories. As these CEOs invest heavily in their quest, the average American consumer faces rising energy costs and increased prices for electronic devices such as PCs, smartphones, and TVs. Additionally, there are concerns about potential shortages of these products. While the race for AGI promises advancements like improved search capabilities and faster coding for software developers, who constitute less than 0.4% of the U.S. population, it also raises fears of job losses. Despite ambitious claims of solving major global issues like cancer and achieving world peace, Hickey suggests that the public might benefit more if these CEOs focused on less consequential challenges, such as the proposed but unrealized UFC-style cage matches between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.