As we stand on the brink of a technological revolution, the discourse around artificial intelligence (A.I.) has never been more urgent. Many experts predict that we are approaching a critical milestone: the creation of artificial general intelligence (A.G.I.), an advanced form of A.I. capable of performing any cognitive task that a human can. This transformation could occur as soon as 2026 or even this year, despite widespread skepticism among the general public.

There’s a growing belief that powerful A.I. systems are reshaping our world in profound ways. From math and coding to medical diagnostics, A.I. is surpassing human capabilities, and its potential is only set to increase. With estimates suggesting that A.I. could generate trillions of dollars in economic value, the nations that harness this technology first will hold substantial power not just economically, but politically and militarily as well.

Despite this impending reality, most individuals and institutions are ill-equipped to handle the massive societal changes that come with increasingly powerful A.I. tools. Currently, no comprehensive plan exists across governments or corporations to manage the risks associated with this technology or to maximize its benefits. Alarmingly, some critics dismiss concerns about A.G.I. as overblown fantasies, creating a false sense of security at a time when preparedness is critical.

Even those who believe in A.G.I.’s potential often find themselves grappling with numerous unanswered questions about its effects on the economy, politics, and technology. It’s crucial to start preparing for A.G.I. now—not tomorrow or next year—but immediately.

What’s particularly disconcerting is the fact that the developers of these A.I. systems—the engineers and executives closest to the technology—are often the most apprehensive about its rapid advancements. Unlike past technological revolutions, there is a consensus emerging within the A.I. community that transformative change is on the horizon. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has noted that A.I. systems capable of approaching A.G.I. are in the works.

While some industry experts caution that A.G.I. may still be far off, credible voices are increasingly agreeing that we must take these developments seriously. The enhancements in A.I. capabilities are not just speculation; they are observable phenomena. Today’s A.I. models have shown remarkable improvements since the early days of tools like ChatGPT, which struggled with basic tasks just a year or so ago. Newer architectures, such as reasoning models, enhance A.I.’s ability to decode complex problems and produce relevant solutions efficiently.

The implications of these advancements are staggering. For instance, some A.I. tools are now capable of coding tasks that previously only a human could complete. The shift has been so significant that many software developers report that they spend more time supervising A.I. than actually coding.

Despite the potential for A.G.I. to reshape industries and even our daily lives, there’s a real danger in underestimating its arrival. Many observers were caught off guard by the rise of social media, which has led to a myriad of societal consequences we are still grappling with today. We cannot afford to repeat the same mistakes with A.I.

To help address these challenges, experts suggest that institutions start modernizing energy and cybersecurity systems, amplifying A.I. literacy in education, and enacting regulations that mitigate the risks posed by A.I. As technological powerhouses invest billions of dollars into developing the next generation of A.I., the urgency to act is palpable.

The reality is that powerful A.I. is already among us, and it’s vital that we recognize its presence before it changes our world in unexpected and potentially unfavorable ways. The time to prepare for A.G.I. and its implications is not just on the horizon; it’s now. Are we ready to face the future that A.I. promises to deliver? Only time will tell, but inaction could lead to unforeseen consequences that we’ll be hard-pressed to manage later.