The Man Who Invented AGI

In 1997, graduate student Mark Gubrud first coined the term "artificial general intelligence" (AGI) in a paper about nanotechnology and warfare, defining it as AI systems that rival human brain complexity and can reason with general knowledge. Years later, computer scientist Ben Goertzel and Shane Legg independently rediscovered and popularized the term while editing a book, with Legg suggesting "AGI" over alternatives like "real AI." Gubrud eventually claimed credit for the original usage, and today his definition remains essentially unchanged as AGI drives trillion-dollar investments and geopolitical competition.