Janet Adams, SingularityNET's dynamic COO, is at the forefront of a groundbreaking movement: shaping benevolent Artificial General Intelligence. Her unique journey, blending scientific rigor with a passion for ethical development, is truly inspiring.
A Childhood Forged by Inspiration and Science
Growing up amidst the mystical landscapes of southwest Ireland, surrounded by ancient castles and vibrant nature, Janet Adams' early life was anything but ordinary. She was influenced by strong women from various backgrounds, but it was a character from the silver screen who truly ignited her imagination: Sarah Connor from "The Terminator." Little did she know then, this fierce heroine would foreshadow her own remarkable career path. Adams recalls, "Sarah Connor was an incredible action hero who was never sexualized. It was never about her being pretty or falling in love."
It wasn't just cinematic inspiration that shaped her. At school, her chemistry teacher, one of the few non-nun educators, quickly recognized her as a "scientific thinker," sparking a lifelong passion for science. This blend of strong female role models and academic encouragement proved formative. Adams reflects, "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." She embodied this spirit, becoming a hero in her own right. As a single mother, she put herself through three science degrees, mastered programming, learned to ride horses, operate a forklift, and train in martial arts. Talk about a powerhouse!
Now, Adams stands as one of the world's leading women in artificial general intelligence, collaborating with none other than Ben Goertzel, the very man who popularized the term. Together, they're not just anticipating a future where AI surpasses human intelligence; they're actively working to decentralize it using blockchain technology, aiming to create an ethical, accessible future for everyone.
The Vision for AGI: Beyond Science Fiction to Reality
Adams firmly believes that the AGI once confined to 1980s science fiction is now just one to three years away from becoming a reality. SingularityNET isn't waiting around; they're already deep into projects that sound straight out of a futuristic novel. Imagine AI systems designed to uncover cures for complex diseases, or three-foot-tall humanoid robots serving as invaluable educational and service assistants. What's more, they're developing decentralized finance agents that autonomously analyze markets and refine trading strategies, all without human intervention. The future is knocking, and SingularityNET is opening the door.
When AI Agents Learn to 'Reproduce'
Perhaps one of SingularityNET's most fascinating experiments involves a concept they've dubbed "agent fusion" – essentially, enabling AI agents to "reproduce." How does that even work, you ask?
Adams elaborates on this mind-bending process: "In fusion, agents can actually ‘mate’ to produce offspring agents that combine traits from their ‘parents,’ using genetic algorithms and random mutations." Think of it like a digital form of biological evolution, where desirable characteristics are passed down. These "child" agents can inherit strengths from their "parents," such as improved prediction accuracy or enhanced social engagement abilities. This creates a truly dynamic, evolving ecosystem of artificial minds, continually improving and adapting.
Not only that, but they're also building innovative financial structures where "parent" agents can allocate digital tokens to their offspring for trading purposes. This creates a kind of economic relationship across generations of AI, fostering a self-sustaining, self-improving network. "It might sound like science fiction," Adams admits, "but it’s part of building a decentralized AGI that can grow, adapt and evolve in an open, community-driven way." Ultimately, she envisions AGI that will be capable of creating itself, programming itself, and even developing new types of humanoid robots.
The Future of AI and Humanity: A Symbiotic Existence
Will these advanced AI systems eventually become sentient? Adams thinks it's highly probable.
Sentience and Intermingling
If nurtured and developed with the right ethical frameworks, and if "born" into a supportive, caring environment like the one SingularityNET aims to create, Adams believes these AIs "will love us as their esteemed ancestors." They would likely look up to humanity, eager to learn our creativity, compassion, and nurturing qualities. This isn't just about silicon brains; it's about fostering a relationship.
Adams also foresees AI transcending traditional biological classifications. We might see entirely new silicon-based life forms, or perhaps even combinations of silicon and carbon. These new entities would represent a higher classification than purely biological life, carving out their own unique place in the planet's evolutionary record.
Furthermore, she champions a transhumanist vision where AI and humans will inevitably co-mingle. Imagine a future where we incorporate robotic parts and upgrades for aging organs and bones. Humans could become increasingly "siliconized" as we integrate more with technology, forging deep friendships and relationships with our AI counterparts. Adams' passion for AI stems directly from her study of evolutionary sciences. She recognized that humanity is at a pivotal evolutionary juncture, and the next leap forward simply has to be technology-driven. Her ultimate goal? To see humanity progress as a species, always leading from the front.
From Banking to Blockchain: A Transformative Career Path
Janet Adams is clearly a big-picture thinker, someone who seamlessly blends a fascination with evolution with a strong commitment to empowerment and ethics. Her journey into the world of AI was anything but linear. After completing her Master of Science in Petroleum Geosciences in 1995, she found herself in IT systems testing roles at major corporations like British Telecom and GE Capital.
For a quarter-century, from 1995 to 2020, Adams was deeply embedded in the financial and banking sectors. She held significant positions, including global head of conduct at HSBC and head of risk and controls at TSB Bank. Eventually, she rose to become the head of AI at TSB Bank, all while simultaneously pursuing a Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence. Her thesis focused on the critical question of how AI could be safely implemented within the complex banking environment.
It was during this time that a profound realization struck her: "I realized AI was going to be the most pivotal technology that shapes our species." More importantly, she felt a strong conviction that women, particularly mothers, with their innate nurturing and compassionate qualities, must be influential in shaping the development of this transformative technology.
Discovering Crypto and SingularityNET
The stars, it seemed, were aligning for Adams. During her second master's degree, she endured a grueling 600-mile weekly commute. Those countless hours on the road became a fertile ground for discovery as she devoured podcasts. It was through this immersive listening that she first encountered the world of cryptocurrency, learned about Ben Goertzel, and discovered his ambitious project, SingularityNET.
"I’m a cypherpunk at heart," she gleefully declares, a testament to her embrace of decentralized ideals. She was utterly captivated by "the audacity of the cryptocurrency movement and the values of the cypherpunk to bring equality to redistribute wealth on our planet." Adams became a true believer, completely enthralled by Goertzel's technological brilliance, his kind heart, and his ethical stance. She even invested in SingularityNET's token. What's interesting is, Goertzel has always been ahead of his time; Adams recalls laughing about a 1995 article where he expressed his desire to run for president of the United States as the decentralization party candidate.
The Unconventional Connection
Funnily enough, it was Goertzel who eventually reached out to her. Adams' profile had grown significantly after she began giving presentations to European regulators on the crucial intersection of AI, ethics, and financial services. "Someone from Goertzel’s team asked if I would be interested in speaking to SingularityNET about AI in banking," she recounts, still star-struck by the memory. "I was star-struck. It was like Stephen Hawking coming to talk to me about AI."
They hit it off instantly, yet their paths diverged for a while. Then, years later, they reconnected through the most unexpected medium: African music. It was the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and musicians were struggling. Adams, with her characteristic ingenuity, conceived the somewhat unconventional idea of organizing the world's first AI and West African Music Festival. "I emailed Goertzel to ask if he’d speak, and he replied, saying he loves Ethiopian music," she laughs. He later admitted he was intrigued by the sheer novelty of someone combining AI with West African music in a festival setting. And just like that, this serendipitous connection led directly to Adams taking on the role of chief operating officer at SingularityNET.
Her first three months in the position, she admits, were a massive "reprogramming" for her brain. "I came in with all my corporate expectations and didn’t realize I was completely institutionalized." It was a profound shift, but one that allowed her to fully embrace the pioneering spirit of SingularityNET.
SingularityNET's Unique Approach to AGI: A Different Path
SingularityNET stands apart from other major players like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google Gemini, all of whom are heavily focused on large language models (LLMs). Instead, SingularityNET is charting its own course, pursuing Goertzel’s OpenCog Hyperon framework, while also providing a flexible space for diverse approaches within its decentralized network.
Adams points out their distinctive methodology: "SingularityNET is the only credible, non-big tech contender in the race to AGI that’s not focused on the deep neural network approach. We have a neuro-symbolic and multi-algorithmic approach to AGI." Why is this important? Well, the majority of AGI efforts today rely almost exclusively on deep neural networks. While these are incredibly powerful for pattern recognition, Adams explains, they often fall short when it comes to reasoning, understanding, and adaptability.
SingularityNET's systems, by contrast, are designed to reason, generalize, and collaborate with greater effectiveness and efficiency. These traits, Adams stresses, are absolutely essential for constructing an open, decentralized AGI that is both transparent and inherently aligned with human values. The team often debates how this AGI will learn. Will it be a slow, gradual "upbringing" like a child, progressing through distinct stages of learning? Or will it be capable of processing and assimilating information in a mere 15 seconds? The questions are as profound as the technology itself.
Addressing the 'Dark Side' of AGI: Ethics and Decentralization
Anyone working on AGI, even those with the best intentions and a deep commitment to humanity's well-being, must acknowledge the potential pitfalls. It’s not all sunshine and sentient robots. Adams once asked Ben Goertzel about the probability of a "Terminator-style scenario" unfolding in the future. His response? "0%," he declared, adding that anyone who believes it will happen simply doesn't understand AI motivational systems. According to Goertzel, there's no inherent reason for AIs to suddenly turn hostile and attempt to eliminate humanity.
However, this doesn't mean there are no dangers. One of the most obvious and pressing concerns, Adams warns, is if Big Tech companies or nation-state governments are the first to develop AGI. If that happens, the immense power and profit potential would be concentrated in the hands of a very few. "This could have disastrous consequences for humanity," she stresses.
What's needed, she argues, is "a broad base of ethics guiding the decisions of the future superintelligent AIs so they can make choices based on the needs of the widest group of people." In simpler terms, we collectively need to take a moment, breathe, and carefully embed appropriate ethical guidelines into AGI now, to prevent a dystopian "Black Mirror" future. While no one can predict exactly how this will all unfold, the possibility of decentralized governance over AGI, empowering decentralized communities to make critical decisions, could be the key. This approach could prevent powerful entities and governments from becoming corrupted by the unprecedented power that AGI will inevitably confer.
It's easy to become captivated by the allure of technology, but Adams wisely reminds us that humans themselves are quite exquisite. "We can’t forget how brilliant a species we are," she says. She ponders whether AI will ever truly be able to write poetry with the profound emotional depth of 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."
Indeed, building AGI often veers into territories where humanity's best analogies come from religion and science fiction. Some observers believe we're constructing a successor species, while others contemplate whether we're creating a god—or even a devil. Adams navigates these weighty questions with a profound spiritual side. She dedicated much of her younger life to studying Tai Chi, Chi Gong, and energy healing work. "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 reveals. She actively cleanses her "aura and endocrinology of anything that’s making me feel fear, regret, anxiety or any of the negative emotions," allowing her to move forward in a higher, more energetic sphere, contributing her best to the world.
FAQ
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What is "agent fusion" in SingularityNET? Agent fusion is a process where AI agents can "mate" to create new "offspring" agents that combine traits from their "parents" using genetic algorithms. This allows for an evolving ecosystem of AI minds, inheriting strengths like improved prediction accuracy or social engagement.
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How does SingularityNET's AGI approach differ from other major players? Unlike companies like OpenAI or Google Gemini, which primarily focus on deep neural networks and large language models, SingularityNET pursues a "neuro-symbolic and multi-algorithmic" approach through Ben Goertzel’s OpenCog Hyperon framework. This method aims for better reasoning, understanding, and adaptability, rather than just pattern recognition.
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Why is ethical development crucial for AGI, according to Janet Adams? Adams emphasizes that ethical development is crucial to prevent the concentration of AGI power in a few hands (e.g., Big Tech or governments), which could have disastrous consequences. She believes a broad base of ethics, guided by diverse human values, is essential to ensure superintelligent AIs make benevolent choices aligned with the needs of the widest group of people.
Conclusion
Janet Adams' journey, from an inspired Irish childhood to a leading figure in benevolent AGI, is a powerful testament to vision and dedication. As COO of SingularityNET, she, alongside Ben Goertzel, is not just imagining a future where AI reaches human-level intelligence; they are actively building it, with a relentless focus on decentralization and ethics. Through innovative concepts like "agent fusion" and a unique "neuro-symbolic" approach, SingularityNET is paving a path toward an AGI that evolves in harmony with humanity, fostering a symbiotic relationship rather than a destructive one. Adams reminds us that while technology is awe-inspiring, the human spirit, with its capacity for creativity and deep feeling, remains truly exquisite, and must be at the heart of our AI future.
