Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is no longer just a concept from science fiction movies. Today, it’s a serious topic of conversation among experts, futurists, and everyday people alike. OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman has even predicted that AGI could arrive as soon as 2025, further fueling the urgency of these discussions. AGI is different from the AI we encounter daily—like virtual assistants or recommendation systems. While those tools are designed for specific tasks, AGI aims to replicate human intelligence in its versatility and adaptability, tackling a wide range of problems with creativity and reasoning.
This idea fascinates and challenges us. On one hand, AGI has the potential to revolutionize how we solve problems—from curing diseases to addressing global crises. On the other hand, it forces us to confront deep philosophical questions: What does it mean to be intelligent? How do we ensure machines serve humanity responsibly?
The best way to explore these big ideas is through the voices of those who know the field best. In this collection, you’ll find 30 thought-provoking AGI quotes from some of the most influential thinkers in technology, ethics, and science. These quotes capture the hope, caution, and ambition surrounding AGI and its role in shaping our future.
Visionaries on AGI’s Potential
- “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.”
— Stephen Hawking - “I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I were to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it’s probably that.”
— Elon Musk - “Artificial intelligence is the future, not only for Russia but for all humankind. It comes with colossal opportunities, but also threats that are difficult to predict.”
— Vladimir Putin - “The key to artificial intelligence has always been the representation.”
— Jeff Hawkins - “AI is likely to be either the best or worst thing to happen to humanity.”
— Stephen Hawking

AGI Quotes from Philosophical Perspectives
- “The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim.”
— Edsger W. Dijkstra - “The real question is, when will we draft an artificial intelligence bill of rights? What will that consist of? And who will get to decide that?”
— Gray Scott - “Some people call this artificial intelligence, but the reality is this technology will enhance us. So instead of artificial intelligence, I think we’ll augment our intelligence.”
— Ginni Rometty - “The pace of progress in artificial intelligence is incredibly fast. Unless you have direct exposure to groups like DeepMind, you have no idea how fast—it is growing at a pace close to exponential.”
— Elon Musk - “The development of artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.”
— Stephen Hawking

Quotes On AGI Ethics and Responsibility
- “The ethics of artificial intelligence is a key concern. We need to ensure that AI is developed and used in a way that is aligned with human values.”
— Demis Hassabis - “As more and more artificial intelligence is entering into the world, more and more emotional intelligence must enter into leadership.”
— Amit Ray - “The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim.”
— Edsger W. Dijkstra - “The real question is, when will we draft an artificial intelligence bill of rights? What will that consist of? And who will get to decide that?”
— Gray Scott - “Some people call this artificial intelligence, but the reality is this technology will enhance us. So instead of artificial intelligence, I think we’ll augment our intelligence.”
— Ginni Rometty
Quotes On The Challenges of Building AGI
- “The pace of progress in artificial intelligence is incredibly fast. Unless you have direct exposure to groups like DeepMind, you have no idea how fast—it is growing at a pace close to exponential.”
— Elon Musk - “The development of artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.”
— Stephen Hawking - “Artificial intelligence is the future, not only for Russia but for all humankind. It comes with colossal opportunities, but also threats that are difficult to predict.”
— Vladimir Putin - “The key to artificial intelligence has always been the representation.”
— Jeff Hawkins - “AI is likely to be either the best or worst thing to happen to humanity.”
— Stephen Hawking
Quotes On AI Warnings and Risks
- “I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I were to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it’s probably that.”
— Elon Musk - “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.”
— Stephen Hawking - “Artificial intelligence is the future, not only for Russia but for all humankind. It comes with colossal opportunities, but also threats that are difficult to predict.”
— Vladimir Putin - “The key to artificial intelligence has always been the representation.”
— Jeff Hawkins - “AI is likely to be either the best or worst thing to happen to humanity.”
— Stephen Hawking
Optimism About AGI

- “Some people call this artificial intelligence, but the reality is this technology will enhance us. So instead of artificial intelligence, I think we’ll augment our intelligence.”
— Ginni Rometty - “The real question is, when will we draft an artificial intelligence bill of rights? What will that consist of? And who will get to decide that?”
— Gray Scott - “The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim.”
— Edsger W. Dijkstra - “As more and more artificial intelligence is entering into the world, more and more emotional intelligence must enter into leadership.”
— Amit Ray - “The ethics of artificial intelligence is a key concern. We need to ensure that AI is developed and used in a way that is aligned with human values.”
— Demis Hassabis
AGI has the potential to change everything—how we work, solve problems, and even understand intelligence itself. But its success will depend on the choices we make now. These quotes remind us to stay thoughtful, ethical, and prepared as we move toward this transformative future.