For decades, the Turing Test has been the guiding star of artificial intelligence researchers. Today, he has quietly moved on. With the emergence of inference models and interactive capabilities, and the increasing pace of building AI infrastructure, we have crossed a turning point in the journey to superintelligence: the point at which AI exceeds human performance on every task.
In fact, the most important question of our time is not whether AI will surpass us because in some respects it has already surpassed us (try beating AI in common knowledge), in many other respects it will surpass us, and in some respects we will always be unique.
The real question, then, is whether we can shape artificial intelligence to enhance human flourishing rather than harm it. This is the most important challenge of our time.
Naturally, everyone is now tired of the hype around artificial intelligence. I understand. But the risks couldn’t be higher. Science and technology have always been the greatest engine of progress for humanity. Over the past 250 years, this engine has doubled life expectancy, lifted billions of people out of poverty, and provided us with antibiotics, electricity, and instantaneous global communications.
Artificial intelligence is the next chapter in this story. It represents our best opportunity to accelerate scientific discovery, economic growth, and human well-being. When you hear about artificial intelligence, it’s helpful to keep this possibility in mind.
But harnessing the potential of AI will only work if we build AI right. The costs of making mistakes are enormous. No one yet has reassuring answers about how these systems will be contained or harmonized. We are stuck in a strange moment, facing the most powerful technologies in history and not knowing how to control them or whether they will still be useful.
I think we can cut through the noise and understand it this way: AI, like all technology, can be evaluated with a simple test. Does it improve human life? Are you clearly working to serve people?
As we embark on the next phase of AI, the answer to these questions lies in what I call Human Superintelligence (HSI): advanced AI designed to remain controllable, consistent, and consistent in the service of humanity. This project clearly aims to avoid at all costs an unlimited entity with complete autonomy.
Instead, we should focus on domain-specific superintelligence. Rather than simply creating a system capable of infinite improvement and running away from itself to whatever purpose it might ultimately achieve, the main goal is to provide practical, realistic benefits to billions of people.
He must forever remain unambiguously subordinate to humanity. This is the vision of our superintelligence team at Microsoft, where our primary mission is to keep humanity safe and firmly in control.
Why humanity? Because history has proven the enduring power of human traditions in preserving human dignity. AI built in this spirit can deliver extraordinary benefits while avoiding catastrophic risks.
We need a vision for AI that supports humanity, fosters creativity, and protects our fragile environment – not one that marginalizes us.
The prize humanity deserves is enormous: a world witnessing rapid advances in standards of living and science, and an era of new forms of art, culture, and growth. It’s a truly inspiring mission that has motivated me for decades. We must celebrate and accelerate technology as the greatest engine of progress humanity has ever known. That’s why we need lots and lots of it.
HSI provides a safer path to the future. Staying grounded in field-specific developments with profound social impact is an example of this. Imagine AI assistants easing the mental burden of everyday life, increasing productivity, and transforming education through adaptive, self-paced learning.
Imagine medical superintelligence delivering accurate, affordable, expert-level diagnoses that could revolutionize global healthcare, capabilities that our healthcare team at Microsoft AI has already envisioned.
Consider the potential for AI-driven advances in clean energy, which will enable abundant, low-cost carbon generation, storage and removal to meet growing demand while protecting the planet.
With HSI, these are not speculative dreams. These are achievable goals that can benefit people around the world, providing tangible improvements in everyday life.
To state the obvious, humans are more important than technology or artificial intelligence. Superintelligence could be the best invention ever, but only if it follows this principle. This means ensuring accountability and transparency, as well as a desire to make safety a top priority.
Our goal is not to build superintelligence at any cost, but to follow a careful path toward inclusive superintelligence, aligned with values and always focused on human well-being.
Everyone should ask themselves: What kind of AI do we really want? The answer will shape the future of civilization. To me, that answer is superior human intelligence.
Translated by Fabricio Calado Moreira
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