‘AI is overhyped’, says Billionaire Investor Tej Kohli - The Future Lies in AGI and Quantum Tech
London-based billionaire Tej Kohli has warned that “AI is overhyped” and risks diverting investment away from artificial general intelligence (AGI) and other revolutionary technologies.
The renowned tech investor and philanthropist has urged global governments, investors, and technologists to resist the "illusion of knowledge" surrounding artificial intelligence (AI).
Writing in UKTN, Kohli warns that the singular focus on AI risks stalling progress in other groundbreaking fields, including AGI, advanced biotech, and quantum computing, which he believes could have even more profound impacts on society.
"AI is overhyped, and the world is missing the bigger picture"
In a thought-provoking critique of current technological priorities, Kohli likened today's AI boom to the personal computing revolution of the 1970s, but warned that the global fixation on AI could create blind spots for other equally transformative innovations.
“AI has taken on an almost mythical quality. While it can solve complex problems and enhance human capabilities, it is far from the ultimate solution to our technological future,” Kohli said. “By funnelling resources disproportionately into AI, we’re failing to recognise the enormous potential of other emerging technologies.”
Kohli, who has invested over £100 million in AI, biotech, and quantum technologies, highlighted the limitations of narrow AI - today’s dominant form of AI - which is designed for specific tasks. He called for greater focus on AGI, a more advanced form of AI capable of learning and innovating independently across disciplines.
“AGI could dwarf the impact of today’s AI systems, revolutionising industries and societies alike. But unlike narrow AI, AGI is underfunded and underexplored, even though advances in computational power, like NVIDIA’s Grace Hopper Superchip, are bringing us closer to this reality,” Kohli explained.
The overlooked giants of biotech and quantum computing
Kohli also emphasised the transformative potential of biotech and quantum computing. He believes AI’s immediate visibility and hype overshadow these areas.
“From CRISPR-based gene editing to organ regeneration, advanced biotech offers the potential to revolutionise healthcare in ways AI simply cannot achieve,” Kohli stated. With the ability to solve currently impossible problems, quantum computing could redefine drug development, logistics, and countless other fields. “This technology could hold the key to solving the world’s most complex challenges, yet it remains severely underfunded compared to AI.”
Diversification is the key to progress
Kohli attributed the global obsession with AI to its visibility and immediate applicability. Tools like chatbots and image generators are easy for the public and investors to understand, making them an attractive focus. However, Kohli warned of the risks of placing all bets on a single technology.
“The media and investors have created a feedback loop of hype, pouring resources into AI while other fields languish. This imbalance delays breakthroughs in technologies with more transformative potential than incremental improvements in AI,” Kohli cautioned.
Kohli’s call to action
Kohli urged global leaders to adopt a more holistic approach to technological investment to avoid stifling broader innovation. His recommendations included:
- Balanced funding: To ensure balanced technological progress, allocate investment more evenly across AI, AGI, biotech, and quantum computing.
- Mainstream awareness: The media should expand discussions to include less visible but high-potential fields like AGI and quantum computing.
- Government and private collaboration: Governments and private investors must actively identify and support underfunded emerging fields, especially those with speculative timelines but transformative potential.
“AI will remain an important driver of innovation, but it won’t shape our future alone”, argued Kohli. “True progress depends on advancements across multiple areas of technology, each contributing in its unique way.”
Kohli’s warning is pivotal as AI garners increasing attention and funding globally. While AI tools promise significant near-term value, Kohli emphasised the importance of nurturing a diversified technological innovation ecosystem.
Eleanor Thomas is a writer for Comment Central.
