In the forthcoming period, "Li Si Business Cases" is set to embark on a new content series, "The Era of AI," following its renowned biographies, entrepreneurial tales, and chronicles on overseas expansion, e-commerce, manufacturing, and new energy. This new venture marks a departure into uncharted territories for many, including myself.

The essence of this series lies in providing fundamental knowledge on AI, presented in layman's terms through my comprehension and organization. Additionally, it will cover the latest industry trends and research advancements, making complex concepts more digestible.

If you're a beginner in this field, this series is tailored for you, and we can embark on this journey together. For those already well-versed in AI, the initial content may seem basic; however, I kindly request your patience and welcome any corrections.

Today, I aim to address some fundamental questions that have perplexed me and many others:

What do AI, AGI, and AI Agents mean, and how did they originate?

Firstly, "AI" or "Artificial Intelligence" is not a novel concept. As a philosophical idea, its roots can be traced back to the dawn of human civilization. Consider ancient inventions like Zhuge Liang's wooden ox and Taoist magic, showcasing humanity's innate desire to imbue inanimate objects with understanding and functionality.

AI represents humanity's introspection on our existence. We marvel at our intelligence and wonder if it can transcend our physical bodies, existing independently in non-living entities. This profound philosophical inquiry dates back to Aristotle's contemplation on "entities with intentions." However, it wasn't until 1950, with the advent of the Turing Test and computers, that the feasibility of AI became tangible.

The ultimate goal of AI is to create an "intelligent system with human-level or superhuman intelligence" capable of autonomous learning, reasoning, planning, and adaptability across various complex tasks. This aspiration is encapsulated in the term "Artificial General Intelligence" (AGI).

The pursuit of AGI has been long-standing, with Mark Gubrud first using the term in 1997. By 2002, Ben Goertzel, Shane Legg, and Peter Voss formally set the goal of building systems with human-level cognitive abilities, crystallizing the dream of AI that humanity has harbored for millennia.

While AGI remains elusive, countless believe we are on the cusp of a breakthrough. Whether this proves true remains to be seen, but if achieved, it would signify the realization of humanity's ultimate expectations for AI.

Understanding AGI is crucial as it forms the foundation for comprehending other AI-related concepts. Despite its ambitiousness, AGI's goal has consistently seemed vast and unrealistic. Research progress has been sporadic, akin to lighting up spots on a vast, dark map.

To maintain momentum, scientists set more tangible goals, leading to the introduction of "ANI" or "Artificial Narrow Intelligence" by Ben Goertzel. ANI refers to intelligent systems optimized for specific tasks like speech recognition and image classification, technologies that have profoundly impacted our lives.

The continuous pursuit of AGI and the realization of ANI have allowed scientists to refine their research objectives. This synergy has gradually illuminated interconnected achievements, hinting at a semblance of intelligence. While AGI remains a distant dream, integrating ANI advancements can create AI Agents that mimic human capabilities in defined fields.

Guided by the principle of "human-like but not human," the concept of "AI Agents" emerged, defined by Wooldridge & Jennings in 1995 as "an intelligent system that can perceive the environment, make autonomous decisions, and invoke tools to perform tasks." AI Agents represent the most human-like and empathetic AI products to date, pending the achievement of AGI.

Breakthroughs in AI Agents, like "Manus," often garner attention due to their human-like capabilities and task-specific substitutability. However, they remain within the realm of ANI. Understanding the main thread leading to AGI is crucial; without it, even numerous side achievements cannot be deemed AGI.

In summary, AGI remains our ultimate dream, promising to revolutionize productivity, achieve immortality, and transition us from a carbon-based to a silicon-based civilization. To achieve this, AI Agents will be invaluable partners, with ANI achievements forming integral parts of AGI's eventual realization.

Moreover, the rise of "LLM" or "Large Language Models" like ChatGPT has ignited the AI landscape, popularizing concepts like AGI and AI Agents. The relationship between LLM, AI, AGI, and AI Agents will be explored in detail in subsequent issues.

Postscript: As a content creator, I've witnessed the profound impact of AI on my profession. The emergence of ChatGPT and other AI advancements has altered the landscape, sparking anxiety about job replacement. However, my interactions with these AI models have assured me of their limitations, at least in terms of creativity and depth. Despite occasional misconceptions, I remain committed to original creation, navigating the evolving landscape with a blend of caution and optimism.

The verbosity in this section is deliberate, aimed at distinguishing my creations from those of AI, both for my benefit and that of my readers. I firmly believe that what truly sets humans apart from AI, and what AI can never replicate, no matter how sophisticated it becomes, is our genuine emotions or, in simpler terms, the human touch.

Perhaps this distinction may not resonate with you. However, as an artist, the human touch is paramount to me. It serves as the cornerstone for my continuous creation of original content.

The primary motivation behind my creation of the "Era of AI" series is to address the fundamental question that lingers in my mind regarding AI: How are AI, AGI (Artificial General Intelligence), and AI Agents evolving? Among them, which one has the potential to ultimately replace me? If I were to choose one to take my place, which would I prefer?

When the day arrives that I no longer harbor doubts about AI, I will cease updating this collection.

Yet, that day may never come.

I believe both you and I are acutely aware of this reality. Nevertheless, it does not deter us from sharing a mutual aspiration for progress.

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