OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the term “artificial general intelligence” (AGI) is becoming less relevant as rapid advances in AI make the concept harder to define.

AGI is commonly described as AI that can perform any intellectual task a human can, but Altman said that the term now has multiple, inconsistent definitions.

He added that focusing on AGI may not be as useful as tracking ongoing improvements in AI models.

“I think it’s not a super useful term,” said Altman.

Nick Patience, AI practice lead at The Futurum Group, echoed this view, saying that AGI’s vague definition can create hype and distract from real progress in specialized AI.

🔗 Source: CNBC

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Market sentiment shifts from AGI promises to specialized AI delivery

The criticism of GPT-5 as “incremental, not revolutionary” reflects a broader market evolution away from AGI hype toward practical AI applications.

Specialized AI agents are projected to grow at 45% annually to reach $216.8 billion by 2035, while currently automating 50% of tasks in HR, customer service, and sales sectors1.

This represents a shift from pursuing undefined AGI capabilities to delivering measurable automation value in specific business functions.

Major investors are redirecting focus toward what one industry analysis calls “agentic infrastructure and governance tools” rather than betting on breakthrough AGI announcements1.

The current AI agent market of $5-5.3 billion demonstrates that specialized applications are already generating substantial revenue, unlike AGI which remains a future promise1.

2️⃣ AGI terminology serves fundraising goals despite definitional confusion

Altman’s acknowledgment that AGI lacks useful definition aligns with research showing the term functions primarily as “a marketing tool for attracting investment and talent”2.

OpenAI’s journey from having “no clear business model” to achieving a $157 billion valuation demonstrates how AGI positioning drives investor interest regardless of technical clarity2.

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