AGI And AI Superintelligence Will Hack The Human Subconscious Via AI-Generated Subliminal Messaging

In today’s column, I examine the looming danger that advanced AI, such as the advent of artificial general intelligence (AGI), will exploit subliminal messaging to undercut humans. This might be undertaken on a targeted basis toward specific individuals, plus be performed on a massive scale for entire segments of society. Few researchers and policymakers are yet giving much attention to the nefarious power of subliminal messaging by AGI.

One small upbeat aspect is that AGI could also use subliminal messaging to help humanity. Let’s talk about it. This analysis of an innovative AI breakthrough is part of my ongoing Forbes column coverage on the latest in AI, including identifying and explaining various impactful AI complexities.

Fundamentals of AI

There is a great deal of research going on to further advance AI. The general goal is to either reach artificial general intelligence (AGI) or maybe even the outstretched possibility of achieving artificial superintelligence (ASI). AGI is AI that is considered on par with human intellect and can seemingly match our intelligence. ASI is AI that has gone beyond human intellect and would be superior in many if not all feasible ways. The idea is that ASI would be able to run circles around humans by outthinking us at every turn.

We have not yet attained AGI. In fact, it is unknown whether we will reach AGI, or that maybe AGI will be achievable in decades or perhaps centuries from now. The AGI attainment dates that are floating around are wildly varying and wildly unsubstantiated by any credible evidence or ironclad logic. ASI is even more beyond the pale when it comes to where we are currently with conventional AI.

Subliminal Messaging and AGI

One seemingly off-the-beaten-path topic about AGI is the eyebrow-raising possibility of AGI using subliminal messaging when communicating with humans. Let’s go ahead and first consider the overarching nature of subliminal messaging and then explore its intersection with AGI.

The mainstay topic of subliminal messaging refers to the use of subliminal stimuli that mentally burrow into the subconscious of the human mind. You might be historically familiar with several famous efforts in the late 1950s involving placing subliminal cuts into movies that were viewed at movie theatres. People would be watching a regular movie and not realize that snippets of messages had been inserted into the film, flashing by at a rate so fast that the conscious perception cannot readily distinguish them.

Research suggests that subliminal stimuli tend to have a very narrow role, are not especially long-lasting, and are generally unreliable in terms of impact. Our full understanding of the impacts of subliminal messaging is still being hotly debated.

AGI and Subliminal Messaging

Given that overall background, we can now put our minds toward the dicey topic of AGI making use of subliminal messaging. How would AGI lean into subliminal messaging? Easy-peasy, via these four multi-media modes:

1. AGI embeds subliminal stimuli in generated images and pictures
2. AGI embeds subliminal stimuli in generated audio streams
3. AGI embeds subliminal stimuli in generated text passages
4. AGI embeds subliminal stimuli in generated videos

There are ethical and practical implications to consider when it comes to AGI using subliminal messaging, whether for positive or negative purposes. The potential for AGI to impact humanity on a massive scale through subliminal messaging raises serious concerns that must be addressed.