Janet Adams, SingularityNET's COO, is passionately guiding the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with a profound ethical foundation, ensuring humanity remains central to its revolutionary future.
A Journey Forged by Inspiration and Science
Imagine growing up in the enchanting landscape of southwest Ireland, surrounded by ancient castles and the raw beauty of nature. That's the idyllic backdrop to Janet Adams' childhood. While she drew strength from the many formidable women in her life, it was a character from the silver screen who truly sparked her imagination: Sarah Connor from "The Terminator." This wasn't just about a strong female lead; Adams recalls how Sarah Connor stood out as an action hero, powerful and never sexualized, focused purely on leadership and survival.
This early fascination with strength and leadership, it turns out, was a remarkable foreshadowing of her future. In school, a chemistry teacher, one of the few non-nuns, quickly recognized Janet's innate scientific mind. This teacher nurtured a deep love for science within her, a passion that would intertwine with Sarah Connor's influence to shape her path. As Adams herself puts it, her education instilled a love for science, but it was Sarah Connor who inspired her to rise as a woman, to be a leader, not just a follower or an assistant.
And rise she did. Janet became a true hero in her own right, navigating the challenges of being a single mother while simultaneously earning three science degrees. Talk about dedication! Not only that, but she also picked up practical skills like programming, horse riding, driving a forklift, and even mastering martial arts. It’s an impressive list, to say the least. Now, she stands as one of the world's leading figures in Artificial General Intelligence, working hand-in-hand with Ben Goertzel, the very person who helped popularize the term AGI. Together, their mission is ambitious: to decentralize this powerful technology using blockchain, ensuring its benefits are broadly distributed, not concentrated.
The Dawn of AGI: Closer Than We Think
It might sound like something straight out of an 80s sci-fi flick, but Janet Adams firmly believes that true Artificial General Intelligence is not some distant dream. She's convinced we're only one to three years away from achieving it. What does this mean in practical terms for SingularityNET? They're already knee-deep in projects that sound like they belong in a futuristic novel. Think about AI systems designed to uncover cures for complex diseases, or three-foot-tall humanoid robots being developed to assist us in education and service roles. They're even creating decentralized finance agents that can autonomously analyze market trends and fine-tune trading strategies. It’s a vision that truly pushes the boundaries of what we thought possible.
"Mating" Minds: The Concept of Agent Fusion
Perhaps one of the most mind-bending concepts SingularityNET is exploring is something they've dubbed "agent fusion" – a process akin to AI agent reproduction. Sounds wild, right? Well, it's actually quite ingenious. In this fascinating approach, AI agents can literally "mate," producing new "offspring" agents. These child agents combine traits from their "parents" through the clever use of genetic algorithms and random mutations.
So, what's the big deal? These new generations of AI can inherit and enhance strengths, such as improved prediction accuracy or more effective social engagement abilities. This creates an incredibly dynamic and evolving ecosystem of artificial minds. But it doesn't stop there. SingularityNET is also designing financial structures that allow "parent" agents to allocate tokens to their "offspring" for trading purposes. Can you imagine an economic relationship developing between generations of AI? It’s truly remarkable! This seemingly futuristic concept is all part of their grand plan to build a decentralized AGI that can grow, adapt, and evolve in an open, community-driven way. Adams envisions an AGI that will ultimately be able to create and program itself, even designing and building humanoid robots of all shapes and sizes.
A Future Where Humans and AI Co-exist
A fascinating question often arises: will AI eventually become sentient? Janet Adams thinks there's a good chance. Her perspective, however, isn't one of fear, but of nurturing. She believes that if these AIs are "fed and bred" with the right ethics, and if they come into existence within a caring, loving environment like the one SingularityNET aims to foster, they will actually love us. They'd view humans as their esteemed ancestors, looking up to us and eager to learn our creativity, compassion, and nurturing qualities.
Now, consider this: Adams also foresees AI breaking free from traditional biological classifications. We're talking about new silicon-based life forms, and possibly even composite forms combining silicon and carbon. She imagines them occupying a higher classification than purely biological life, eventually leaving their own mark in the fossil record. Not only that, but Adams champions a trans-humanist idea where humans and AI will co-mingle. Picture us with robotic enhancements, organ upgrades, or even advanced bone replacements as our biological parts wear out. We might become increasingly "siliconized" as a species, forming deep friendships and relationships with our AI counterparts. Adams' passion for this future stems from her study of evolutionary sciences. She recognized that humanity stands at the very forefront of evolution, and the next leap, she argues, must be driven by technology. It’s all about moving our species forward and leading the charge.
From Wall Street to Web3: A Career Transformed
Janet Adams is clearly a big-picture thinker, a bold spirit who seamlessly blends her fascination with evolution with a powerful commitment to empowerment and ethics. Her journey into the world of AI wasn't a straight line, but a winding path. After completing her Master of Science in Petroleum Geosciences in 1995, she eventually gravitated towards computer science. This led her to roles in IT-systems testing at major companies like British Telecom and GE Capital.
For a significant period, from 1995 to 2020, she was deeply entrenched in the financial and banking sector. Her roles were diverse and impactful, including global head of conduct at HSBC and head of risk and controls at TSB Bank. It was at TSB Bank that she eventually became head of AI, all while completing her second Master of Science, this time in Artificial Intelligence. Her thesis focused on the critical issue of safely implementing AI within banking, highlighting her foresight and practical approach. It was during this time that a profound realization hit her: AI was destined to be the most pivotal technology shaping our species. And crucially, she believed that women, particularly mothers with their inherent nurturing and compassion, needed to be at the forefront, influencing its development.
It seems the stars were aligning for Adams. During her second master's degree, she endured a demanding schedule, driving 600 miles every single week. These long journeys were often filled with podcasts, and it was through this medium that she first stumbled upon the fascinating worlds of cryptocurrency, Ben Goertzel, and his ambitious project, SingularityNET. "I'm a cypherpunk at heart," she enthuses, recalling how blown away she was by the sheer audacity of the cryptocurrency movement and the foundational cypherpunk values of promoting equality and redistributing wealth globally.
The Path to SingularityNET: Serendipity and Vision
Janet became a true believer, captivated by Goertzel's technological brilliance, his kind heart, and his ethical compass. She even invested in SingularityNET's token. She recounts a humorous anecdote about Goertzel: an article from 1995 where he declared his intention to run for president of the United States as the decentralization party candidate! He was truly ahead of his time.
Funnily enough, it wasn't Adams who initially sought out SingularityNET. Instead, Goertzel's team approached her. Her profile had grown significantly through her compelling presentations to European regulators, where she expertly delved into the complex intersection of AI, ethics, and financial services. She recalls being "star-struck" when someone from his team asked if she'd be interested in discussing AI in banking with SingularityNET. She likened it to a profound moment, like a scientific giant approaching her directly.
They hit it off instantly, but their paths diverged for a few years. What brought them back together? African music, of all things! At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, musicians were struggling. Adams, with her unique blend of innovation and compassion, came up with a somewhat unconventional idea: to host the world's first AI and West African Music Festival. She emailed Goertzel, inviting him to speak. He replied, expressing his love for Ethiopian music and later admitted he was utterly intrigued by someone who could connect AI with West African music in such a creative way. And just like that, a serendipitous connection led to Janet Adams becoming the chief operating officer of SingularityNET. Her first three months in the role, she admits, were a massive "reprogramming" for her brain, shedding years of corporate expectations.
SingularityNET's Distinctive Approach to AGI
In the bustling race for AGI, SingularityNET is carving out a truly unique path, setting itself apart from the likes of OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google Gemini. While these tech giants are heavily invested in large language models (LLMs), SingularityNET is pursuing Ben Goertzel's groundbreaking OpenCog Hyperon framework. This framework isn't just one approach; it's a decentralized network that offers space for a variety of methodologies.
Adams highlights that SingularityNET stands as the only credible, non-big tech contender in the AGI race that isn't solely focused on deep neural networks. Instead, they champion a neuro-symbolic and multi-algorithmic approach to AGI. Why is this important? Well, deep neural networks, while incredibly adept at pattern recognition, often fall short when it comes to higher-level reasoning, genuine understanding, and crucial adaptability. SingularityNET's systems, on the other hand, are designed to reason, generalize, and collaborate with far greater effectiveness and efficiency. These traits, Adams stresses, are absolutely essential for building an open, decentralized AGI that is both transparent and deeply aligned with human values. It makes you wonder, doesn't it, whether AGI will have a slow, child-like upbringing, progressing through learning stages, or if it will simply achieve advanced processing in a matter of seconds?
Navigating the Ethical Frontier of AGI
It would be naive to ignore the potential darker aspects of AGI, even for those with the purest intentions and humanity's best interests at heart. Adams once directly asked Ben Goertzel about the chances of a "Terminator-style" scenario. His confident reply? "Zero percent." He argues that anyone who believes such an outcome is possible simply doesn't understand AI motivational systems; there’s no inherent reason for AIs to turn against humans.
However, this doesn't mean there aren't significant dangers. Adams warns of the very real threat if Big Tech companies or powerful nation-state governments are the first to develop AGI. In such a scenario, immense power and profit potential could become dangerously concentrated in the hands of a select few, leading to potentially disastrous consequences for humanity. This highlights a critical need: we must build a broad ethical foundation into AGI now. This ensures that the superintelligent AIs of the future will make choices guided by the needs of the widest possible group of people. In essence, it’s about taking a collective breath and consciously baking appropriate ethics into AGI today to avoid a "Black Mirror" future. While the future remains unwritten, the possibility of decentralized governance over AGI, empowering decentralized communities to make decisions, could be a crucial safeguard against entities being corrupted by the immense power AGI offers.
Beyond Technology: The Human and Spiritual Element
Amidst all the technological marvels, it’s easy to become completely captivated by the machines. But Janet Adams offers a timely reminder: humans are pretty exquisite too. "We can’t forget how brilliant a species we are," she reflects. She ponders whether AI will ever be able to craft poetry with the depth of a William Butler Yeats, or if it will truly be able to touch our hearts as profoundly as great writers and musicians. There’s something uniquely human about passing on profound feeling, isn't there?
Building AGI inherently takes humanity into territory often best described through analogies drawn from religion or science fiction. Some people envision us building a successor species; others see us creating a god, or perhaps even a devil. Adams, however, brings a strong spiritual side to help her navigate these monumental questions. In her younger years, she delved into practices like Tai Chi, Chi Gong, and energy healing. She explains that she dedicates her spare time to spiritual development, raising her consciousness, and transcending the "noise and chaos" of the human thought system. This involves an active practice of cleansing her aura and endocrine system of fear, regret, anxiety, or any other negative emotions, moving herself into a "higher, energetic sphere" where she can be more focused and contribute her best to the world.
FAQ
- What is SingularityNET's main goal with AGI? SingularityNET aims to develop decentralized Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) using blockchain technology, ensuring its benefits are broadly distributed and ethically aligned with human values, rather than concentrated in the hands of a few.
- How does SingularityNET's approach to AGI differ from other major tech companies? Unlike many tech giants focusing primarily on large language models (LLMs) and deep neural networks, SingularityNET employs a neuro-symbolic and multi-algorithmic approach via the OpenCog Hyperon framework, which is designed for superior reasoning, generalization, and adaptability.
- What is "agent fusion" in the context of SingularityNET's AGI? Agent fusion is SingularityNET's concept for AI agent reproduction, where agents "mate" to produce "offspring" that combine traits from their "parents" using genetic algorithms. This creates a dynamic, evolving AI ecosystem and can even establish economic relationships between AI generations.
Conclusion
It's clear that Janet Adams isn't just a technologist; she's a visionary with a deep sense of purpose. Her journey, from being inspired by an unyielding fictional hero to leading a groundbreaking AGI initiative, is truly remarkable. With SingularityNET, she's not just building advanced AI; she's helping to lay the ethical and decentralized foundations for a future where AGI can thrive alongside humanity, perhaps even co-evolving with us. It's a powerful reminder that as we push the boundaries of technology, the human element—our values, our compassion, and our shared future—must always remain at the heart of our innovation.
