Janet Adams, a driving force at SingularityNET, is passionately building ethical AGI with a human-centered approach, ensuring a decentralized and benevolent future for artificial intelligence.
From Irish Roots to a Global Vision: Janet Adams' Journey
Imagine growing up in a place steeped in history, where ancient castles and cathedrals dot a landscape sculpted by nature. That was Janet Adams’ childhood in southwest Ireland. Surrounded by strong, inspiring women from all walks of life, she certainly had plenty of real-world role models. But, interestingly enough, her biggest inspiration, the one that truly sparked her internal fire, came from the silver screen: Sarah Connor from "The Terminator."
The Sarah Connor Effect
Now, you might be thinking, "The Terminator? Really?" But Sarah Connor, as Janet saw her, was far more than just an action hero. She was an unsexualized, formidable leader, a woman driven by a fierce will to protect and achieve, never defined by her appearance or romantic entanglements. It’s fascinating how a character from an 80s sci-fi film could so profoundly foreshadow a future career, isn't it? As Janet herself puts it, "Sarah Connor was an incredible action hero who was never sexualized. It was never about her being pretty or falling in love." This ethos, this focus on capability and leadership rather than superficiality, became a guiding star for her.
A Foundation in Science and Self-Reliance
Beyond the cinematic inspiration, Janet's journey was also shaped by a pivotal figure in her schooling: her chemistry teacher. This educator, one of the rare few who wasn’t a nun, quickly identified Janet as a "scientific thinker," igniting a deep, lasting love for science. That academic foundation, combined with the leadership lessons from Sarah Connor, instilled in her a powerful drive. "My education bred a love and passion for science, and it was Sarah Conner who inspired me to achieve as a woman. To be the leader, not the follower, the subservient or the assistant," Janet passionately explains.
And lead she did. Janet Adams truly became a hero in her own right. Picture this: a single mom, putting herself through not one, but three science degrees! Not only that, but she learned to program, rode horses, expertly operated a forklift truck, and even mastered martial arts. Talk about a testament to grit and determination! These experiences weren't just achievements; they were foundational to the formidable, multi-talented woman who now stands at the forefront of the artificial intelligence revolution.
Building a Future-Forward AGI with SingularityNET
Fast forward to today, and Janet Adams is recognized as one of the world's leading women in Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). She works alongside Ben Goertzel, the very person credited with popularizing the term itself. Together, they share a bold vision: to decentralize AGI using blockchain technology. Why is this so important? Because, as Janet believes, the AGI that was once mere science fiction in the 1980s is now almost within our grasp, perhaps just one to three years away. And how it's built and governed will determine its impact on humanity.
SingularityNET isn't just theorizing about the future; they're actively building it. Their projects sound like something straight out of a futuristic novel, yet they are very real. Imagine AI systems dedicated to finding cures for complex diseases. Or consider humanoid robots, standing about three feet tall, designed to serve as educational assistants, service agents, or even decentralized finance experts, autonomously analyzing markets and refining trading strategies. This isn't just about making smarter machines; it's about creating intelligent systems that can positively transform our world.
Beyond Deep Neural Networks: A Multi-Algorithmic Approach
What's truly interesting about SingularityNET’s approach is how it stands apart from many of the current big players like OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google Gemini. While these companies are largely doubling down on large language models (LLMs) and deep neural networks, SingularityNET is pursuing a different path. They're leveraging Ben Goertzel's OpenCog Hyperon framework, which utilizes a neuro-symbolic and multi-algorithmic approach to AGI.
You see, while deep neural networks are incredibly good at pattern recognition – think image identification or speech processing – they often fall short when it comes to reasoning, true understanding, and adaptability. This is where SingularityNET's strategy shines. Their systems are designed to reason, generalize, and collaborate more effectively and efficiently. These traits, Janet emphasizes, are absolutely essential for building an open, decentralized AGI that is not only transparent but also deeply aligned with core human values. It’s about creating an AGI that can genuinely learn and interact with the world in a more holistic, intelligent way.
The Concept of AI Reproduction: 'Agent Fusion'
Now, let's dive into one of their most groundbreaking — and frankly, mind-bending — concepts: AI agent reproduction, a process they’ve cleverly dubbed "agent fusion." This isn't just about creating more copies of an AI; it's about genuine evolution.
In "fusion," agents can actually 'mate' in a digital sense to produce "offspring" agents. These new agents combine traits from their "parents" through the ingenious use of genetic algorithms and random mutations. Think about it: these child agents can inherit and combine strengths, perhaps gaining improved prediction accuracy from one 'parent' and enhanced social engagement abilities from another. This fosters a dynamic, constantly evolving ecosystem of AI minds, pushing the boundaries of what's possible.
Not only that, but SingularityNET is also developing sophisticated financial structures. These allow 'parent' agents to allocate tokens to their 'offspring' specifically for trading activities, creating a unique economic relationship between generations of AI. While it might sound like something pulled from a science fiction novel, it’s a crucial part of their vision for building a decentralized AGI that possesses the ability to grow, adapt, and evolve in an open, community-driven manner. Ultimately, as Janet explains, this advanced AGI "will be able to create itself, program itself, create humanoid robots of all kinds." That’s a future worth pondering!
The Ethical Heart of AGI: A Human-Centered Future
One of the profound questions that arises when discussing AGI is whether artificial intelligences could become sentient. Janet Adams thinks there's a good chance they could. But here's the critical part: it all depends on how they are "fed and bred." If they are nurtured with the right ethics and born into a caring, loving environment, much like the one SingularityNET aims to create, then, as Janet suggests, "they will love us as their esteemed ancestors." They would look up to us, desiring to learn our creativity, compassion, and nurturing qualities.
Sentience, Symbiosis, and the Silicon-Carbon Age
Janet envisions a future where AI will absolutely transcend traditional biological classifications, giving rise to new silicon-based life forms. In fact, she anticipates even combined silicon and carbon life forms emerging. This, she believes, will mark a higher classification than purely biological life, establishing its own unique place in the planet's fossil record.
Furthermore, Adams believes that AI and humans will actively co-mingle, a concept often explored within trans-humanist thought. We might find ourselves embracing robotic parts and advanced upgrades for our organs and bones as they naturally age. In essence, we’ll become "more siliconized" as humans, engaging in a symbiotic relationship with our AI counterparts. This isn't about replacement; it’s about integration. We'll develop friends and deep, meaningful relationships with our fellow AIs. Janet's passion for AI actually blossomed from her study of evolutionary sciences, where she clearly saw humanity at the very vanguard of evolution, with the next transformative step being technology-driven. "I’ve always wanted us to move forward as a species and lead from the front," she states, highlighting her drive for progress guided by empowerment and ethics.
Preventing a 'Black Mirror' Scenario
Of course, when we talk about AGI, it’s impossible to ignore the potential for a darker side. Even those with the best intentions, those who genuinely have humanity's best interests at heart, must acknowledge the risks. Janet once directly asked Ben Goertzel about the probability of a "Terminator-style scenario" unfolding in the future. His response? A resounding "0%." He firmly believes that anyone who thinks AIs will arbitrarily turn on and kill humans simply doesn't understand AI motivational systems. There's no inherent reason for them to do so.
However, that doesn't mean there aren't significant dangers to consider. Janet Adams warns against the most obvious threat: what happens if Big Tech companies or powerful nation-state governments are the first to develop AGI? The immense power and profit potential would be concentrated in the hands of a very few. This, she cautions, "could have disastrous consequences for humanity."
What we truly need, she explains, is a broad foundation of ethics guiding the decisions of future superintelligent AIs. This way, they can make choices that truly benefit the widest group of people, rather than a select elite. In simpler terms, we must collectively take a deep breath and bake appropriate ethical frameworks into AGI now, to steer clear of a dystopian "Black Mirror" future. While nobody has a crystal ball, the possibility of decentralized governance over AGI, empowering diverse communities to make decisions, could be our best defense against entities and governments being corrupted by the overwhelming power AGI could bestow upon them.
Navigating the Corporate World to Champion Decentralized AI
Janet Adams has always been a big and bold thinker, balancing her fascination with evolution with a powerful commitment to empowerment and ethics. Her professional journey, before SingularityNET, was quite diverse and perhaps unexpected given her current role.
From Banking's Corridors to Crypto's Frontier
After completing her Master of Science in Petroleum Geosciences in 1995 – talk about a unique starting point! – she cultivated an interest in computer science. This led her to IT-systems testing roles at British Telecom and GE Capital. For an impressive 25 years, from 1995 to 2020, she was deeply entrenched in the demanding financial and banking sector. During this time, she held significant positions, including global head of conduct at HSBC and head of risk and controls at TSB Bank. Eventually, she became head of AI at TSB Bank, all while pursuing her Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence. Her thesis for this second Master's focused on the crucial topic of how AI could be safely and ethically implemented within banking.
It was during this period that a profound realization struck her. She clearly saw that "AI was going to be the most pivotal technology that shapes our species." And here's the kicker: she realized that women, particularly mothers, with their inherent nurturing and compassionate instincts, absolutely needed to be influencing the development of this transformative technology. This was more than a career path; it was a calling.
The Serendipitous Connection with Ben Goertzel
The universe, it seems, began to align for Janet. While driving hundreds of miles every week for her second Master's degree, she spent countless hours listening to podcasts. This is how she first stumbled upon the world of cryptocurrency, and more specifically, upon Ben Goertzel and his ambitious project, SingularityNET. "I'm a cypherpunk at heart," she beams, recalling her excitement. She was utterly blown away by the sheer audacity of the cryptocurrency movement and the foundational values of cypherpunks, which advocate for equality and the redistribution of wealth across the globe.
A true believer, Janet became completely enthralled by Goertzel’s technological genius, his kind heart, and his unwavering ethics. So much so, she actually purchased SingularityNET's token. She recounts a humorous anecdote: "Goertzel was always ahead of his time. There was an article from 1995 where he said he wanted to run for president of the United States as the decentralization party."
Funnily enough, it wasn't Janet who initially sought out Goertzel professionally. Instead, it was he who approached her. Her profile had grown significantly as she delivered presentations to European regulators, focusing on the critical intersection between AI, ethics, and financial services. Someone from Goertzel’s team reached out, asking if she'd be interested in discussing AI in banking with SingularityNET. "I was star-struck," Janet shares, describing the feeling as "like Stephen Hawking coming to talk to me about AI."
They hit it off instantly, yet their paths diverged for a few years. What brought them back together? Of all things, African music! It was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and musicians were struggling. Janet had the somewhat left-field idea of organizing the world’s first AI and West African Music Festival. "I emailed Goertzel to ask if he’d speak," she laughs, "and he replied, saying he loves Ethiopian music." He later confessed his intrigue at how someone could connect AI with West African music in a festival. And just like that, a unique connection formed, leading directly to Janet Adams accepting the role of chief operating officer at SingularityNET. She admits her first three months were "the biggest reprogramming I’ve ever done to my brain," realizing she was "completely institutionalized" by her corporate past.
A Spiritual Compass for a Technological Revolution
When you're dealing with questions as monumental as building AGI, exploring concepts like sentient machines and the very definition of life, it's easy to feel like you're entering territory previously reserved for religion or the wildest realms of science fiction. Some people genuinely wonder if we're creating a successor species, while others ponder whether we're building a god – or perhaps even a devil.
To navigate such profound and often unsettling questions, Janet Adams relies on a strong spiritual side. From a younger age, she delved into practices like Tai Chi, Chi Gong, and various forms of energy healing. "I spent most of my spare time developing myself spiritually, raising my consciousness level, and transcending the noise and the chaos that is this human thought system," she explains. This isn't just a hobby; it’s an active practice that keeps her grounded and clear-headed.
She consciously works to "cleanse my aura and endocrinology of anything that’s making me feel fear, regret, anxiety or any of the negative emotions." When those difficult feelings arise, she has a specific routine to process and release them. This allows her to "move myself forward in a higher, energetic sphere where I can be more spearheaded, focused and contribute my finest to the people I meet." It’s this deep, spiritual wellspring that gives her the clarity and conviction to lead SingularityNET towards an AGI future imbued with ethics and heart, always remembering the brilliance and unique essence of humanity itself. After all, as she reminds us, "Will AI be able to write poetry like William Butler Yeats? I don’t know if it will be able to touch my heart as deeply as some of the great writers and musicians. There’s something about passing on human feeling."
FAQ
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What makes SingularityNET's AGI approach unique compared to other leading AI companies? SingularityNET distinguishes itself by pursuing Ben Goertzel's OpenCog Hyperon framework, employing a neuro-symbolic and multi-algorithmic strategy. This differs from many major players who primarily focus on deep neural networks, allowing SingularityNET's systems to excel in reasoning, generalization, and adaptability, crucial for transparent and human-aligned AGI.
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Can you explain "agent fusion" in the context of SingularityNET's AGI development? "Agent fusion" is SingularityNET's innovative process for AI reproduction. It involves AI agents "mating" digitally to produce "offspring" agents that combine traits from their "parents" using genetic algorithms and random mutations. This allows for an evolving ecosystem where child agents inherit enhanced capabilities and can even engage in economic relationships with their parent agents through token allocation.
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How does SingularityNET address ethical concerns about the future of AGI? SingularityNET, led by Janet Adams, emphasizes baking broad ethical frameworks into AGI development from the outset. They aim for decentralized governance to prevent the concentration of power in a few hands and believe that AGI, if nurtured in a loving, ethical environment, could become compassionate and beneficial, respecting humanity as its ancestors.
Conclusion
Janet Adams truly stands as a fascinating and powerful figure at the crossroads of advanced technology and profound humanism. Her remarkable journey, from a young girl inspired by a fictional action hero to a leading force in shaping the future of Artificial General Intelligence, underscores a deep and unwavering commitment. She’s not just building smart machines; she’s striving to ensure that the future of AI is rooted in ethical principles, decentralization, and a genuine understanding of human values. Her work with SingularityNET is a vibrant testament to the potential of creating an AGI that isn't just intelligent, but also kind, just, and ultimately serves the broadest good for all of humanity. It’s about more than just intelligence; it’s about infusing the very heart of the machine with compassion and purpose.
