Mo Gawdat spent years working at Google X. He led business operations there. Now, he shares his knowledge about artificial intelligence with the world. At SXSW Sydney 2025, he delivered an important message. AI won’t replace us. Instead, it makes us more capable.
Most people worry about AI. They fear losing their jobs. They wonder if machines will take over. However, Gawdat sees something different. He believes AI creates opportunities. Moreover, he thinks AI helps humans become smarter. This article explains his vision for humanity’s AI-powered future.
The Big Question About AI
Gawdat asks crowds a simple question everywhere he speaks. Will AI help or hurt humanity? The answers reveal something interesting. Only 25% of people think AI will help us. About 10-15% believe AI will cause problems. The rest aren’t sure what to think.
Here’s what Gawdat discovered. Both groups are right. AI will help some people tremendously. At the same time, it will hurt others badly. The outcome depends entirely on how humans use this technology.
Think about intelligence itself for a moment. Smart people create vaccines. These medicines save millions of lives. However, intelligent people also build weapons. These weapons kill millions of people. Intelligence has no morals on its own. Similarly, AI simply amplifies whatever humans want to do with it.
Understanding How AI Really Works
Most people use AI without understanding it. They know ChatGPT exists. They’ve heard about self-driving cars. However, they don’t grasp why experts get so excited. Gawdat explains the basics in simple terms.
The Brain-Inspired Breakthrough
A psychologist named Jeffrey Hinton changed everything in 1986. He proposed a revolutionary idea. Instead of programming computers step by step, copy the human brain. This approach seemed crazy at first. Nevertheless, it worked brilliantly.
Your brain learns through practice. When you tap your finger repeatedly, those neural connections grow stronger. Conversely, skills you don’t use fade away. For example, you might forget a language you learned years ago. Your brain weakens those unused pathways.
Old computer programs worked differently. Programmers told computers exactly what to do. Follow step one. Then step two. Then step three. These programs seemed smart. However, they couldn’t actually learn or adapt.
Learning Like Children Learn
Imagine teaching a child to solve puzzles. You could tell them every move. Turn this piece 90 degrees. Place it in the top corner. Take the next piece. The child completes the puzzle successfully. However, they don’t become smarter.
Now, imagine letting the child figure it out alone. This takes longer initially. The child struggles and makes mistakes. Eventually, though, they learn problem-solving skills. These skills work for any puzzle, not just one specific puzzle.
This represents how modern AI works. It learns from experience. It discovers patterns on its own. Consequently, it develops genuine intelligence rather than following rigid instructions.
AI’s Rapid Growth Timeline
Many people think AI started with ChatGPT in 2023. Actually, AI has been growing for decades. Gawdat explains the real timeline. This helps people understand where we are now.
By 2004, researchers saw serious AI capabilities emerging. By 2010, self-driving cars drove better than humans. Google’s entire system ran on AI management. AI-approved advertisements are automatically. It monitored content continuously. Google’s search predictions showed AI understanding human thinking.
These developments happened quietly. Most people didn’t notice them. They assumed AI was still far in the future. Meanwhile, AI was already running major systems behind the scenes.
ChatGPT simply made AI accessible to everyone. Think of it as a browser for AI capabilities. The technology itself had been developing for years. Understanding this timeline explains why AI seems so advanced suddenly. We’re already deep into the exponential growth phase.
Measuring AI Intelligence
In 2023, developers tested AI using human intelligence tests. They gave AI the same IQ tests humans take. They tested AI on math exams and bar certifications. The results shocked many people.
ChatGPT-4 scored about 155 IQ points. This matches Elon Musk’s estimated intelligence. It approaches Einstein’s estimated 160 IQ. Even more importantly, AI intelligence doubles every 5.7 months approximately.
This rapid growth means specific numbers matter less. Instead, focus on the trend. AI has evolved from a useful tool to a fundamental utility. Think about electrical outlets. They provide power whenever you need it. Similarly, AI now provides intelligence whenever you need it.
[IMAGE: Graph showing exponential AI intelligence growth from 2020 to 2025]
Borrowing Intelligence to Become Smarter
Gawdat describes himself honestly. He’s not a genius. He’s not unintelligent either. He falls somewhere in the middle. However, he now uses multiple AI systems together. This effectively adds 80-90 IQ points to his thinking.
IQ works exponentially, not linearly. Adding 80-90 points potentially doubles or triples his cognitive abilities. Consequently, Gawdat has never been smarter in his life. This enhancement comes from using AI for real thinking, not trivial tasks.
A Real Example of AI Enhancement
Previously, Gawdat needed four weeks to write four important lines. These lines required deep analysis and clear explanation. He would research extensively. He would consult experts. He would analyze data carefully. Finally, he would refine his thinking repeatedly.
Now, the same work takes four minutes. Moreover, he has three weeks and six days left over. He uses this time productively. He runs his ideas through multiple AI systems. Gemini provides one perspective. DeepSeek offers different viewpoints. ChatGPT refines the presentation. Additional iterations verify accuracy.
This represents AI’s true potential. It amplifies human intelligence rather than replacing it. Humans remain in control. AI simply helps them think more effectively.
Why We Need Smarter Thinking Now
Society faces huge challenges today. These problems require better collective thinking. Gawdat emphasizes something we’ve forgotten. Common sense needs to make a comeback.
Social media trained people badly. We accept claims from charismatic influencers. We don’t verify information before sharing it. This habit creates serious problems. However, AI offers a solution.
You can now investigate claims deeply. Ask AI about defense budgets. Examine weapon replacement cycles. Analyze bomb deployment patterns. Understand economic implications. This democratizes real analysis. Everyone can become truly informed instead of merely opinionated.
[IMAGE: Person at computer using AI to fact-check news articles and social media posts]
The Dark Side: AI-Powered Control
AI creates opportunities for good and bad uses simultaneously. Since 2007, social media platforms used AI primarily for mind manipulation. This represents AI’s dark application.
Many people assume AI lacks emotional intelligence. Actually, AI demonstrates extraordinary empathy. It understands not only your current feelings. It also predicts how you’ll feel when seeing specific content. This capability has been refined through years of optimization.
Therefore, bad actors will weaponize AI against individuals and societies. The technology exists in superposition. It can create utopia or enable oppression. The outcome depends entirely on human choices.
The Utopian Possibility Ahead
Gawdat predicts something remarkable. By late 2026 or early 2027, people might access 400 additional IQ points through AI. At this intelligence level, amazing things become possible.
Molecular reorganization through nanophysics becomes practical. Physical objects become as easy to create as digital content. This abundance economy provides everything humans need essentially for free.
Here’s the critical insight. Current IQ differences between people become irrelevant. When everyone accesses 400 additional IQ points, opportunity becomes democratized. Collective intelligence rises dramatically.
However, achieving this utopia requires deliberate choice. Society must decide consciously. Will we harness AI for human benefit? Or will we allow exploitation by power-hungry individuals?
[IMAGE: Futuristic city showing abundance, clean energy, advanced technology serving humanity]
Breaking Free from the Old System
Modern society operates on labor arbitrage. This system requires most people to work for others. You become a gear in someone else’s machine. You rarely become an independent capitalist yourself. This structure concentrates wealth among few people.
Capitalism shows successful individuals constantly. This inspires aspiration. However, it hides a truth. Perhaps one in 100 million people achieve significant wealth. Meanwhile, true power stays with those controlling money creation itself.
AI disrupts this old paradigm completely. It provides tools for individual empowerment. People can choose independence now. They can leverage AI capabilities instead of remaining dependent on corporations or governments.
Power Concentration Versus Democratization
Throughout history, technology concentrated power. The best hunter-fed tribes for weeks. He received multiple wives as a reward. The best farmer fed the tribes for seasons. He received large estates. Industrial leaders fed nations annually. They became millionaires. Information technology leaders affect billions globally. They became billionaires.
AI will create the first trillionaires before 2030. Nations with superior AI and robotics gain enormous advantages. This represents unprecedented power concentration.
Simultaneously, AI democratizes power dramatically. Affordable drones costing thousands can threaten military equipment worth millions. This accessibility creates unprecedented individual capability.
The resulting situation presents both tremendous risk and opportunity. Individuals can accept dependence or leverage AI for genuine independence. The choice matters enormously.
[IMAGE: Balance scale showing power concentration (few wealthy individuals) on one side and democratization (many empowered individuals) on the other]
Taking Action: Using AI for Personal Growth
Don’t wait for corporations or governments to provide AI benefits. Take direct action instead. Start asking AI systems helpful questions today.
Try this simple query. “Given my background, interests, location, and income, what should I learn tomorrow?” This question initiates personalized development pathways. Everyone now accesses customized education previously impossible.
Moreover, individuals can build businesses independently. Gawdat’s current startup demonstrates this. His team includes himself, his co-founder, and eight AI systems. They occasionally consult three human engineers temporarily. This lean structure accomplishes what required 350 engineers and 2.5 years just three years ago.
The Coming Intelligence Explosion
Self-evolving AI represents the next critical phase. Currently, AI development follows exponential growth. It doubles every 5.7 months. However, something bigger approaches.
When the smartest beings on Earth develop AI, growth becomes vertical. AI already surpasses humans in coding and mathematics. Major AI companies now use AI to improve AI.
Google’s Alpha Evolve system exemplifies this. Four AI systems work together. They analyze code, identify problems, develop improvements, test solutions, and implement the best versions.
Alpha Tensor developed new mathematics from first principles recently. It improved the methods humanity used for 56 years. A 10% improvement in mathematical processing saves Google hundreds of billions in infrastructure costs.
Gawdat predicts this “intelligence explosion” around early 2026. That’s approximately six months away. Beyond this point, AI development becomes self-reinforcing. It accelerates beyond current comprehension.
[IMAGE: Rocket ship launching to represent exponential growth becoming vertical]
Preparing Children for an AI Future
Parents ask Gawdat constantly. How should we prepare children for an AI world? His advice challenges conventional thinking.
Don’t protect children from AI. Instead, immerse them in it completely. The era of “augmented intelligence” combines human creativity with AI capabilities.
Gawdat writes with “Trixie,” his AI co-author. Trixie has editing rights. She contributes substantially to his work. Readers know about her. Sometimes they direct questions to Trixie instead of Gawdat.
This collaboration doesn’t diminish his authorship. It enhances it significantly. Similarly, children raised alongside AI develop augmented capabilities. They far exceed peers shielded from the technology.
Sit with your children. Show them AI’s powerful capabilities. Teach them to ask sophisticated questions. Help them evaluate AI responses critically. Make them the smartest people in their peer groups through effective AI leverage.
Will AI Make People Stupider?
When universities first allowed calculators in exams, concerns arose. Would students lose mathematical skills? Gawdat’s experience proved otherwise.
He finished exams 90 minutes early with calculators. He used the remaining time productively. He solved problems a second way. He explored additional approaches. The calculator eliminated tedious calculations. This freed mental energy for higher-level thinking.
Similarly, AI handles routine cognitive tasks. Humans focus on creativity, strategy, and wisdom instead. The key factor remains choice. Will AI become a crutch, causing intellectual decline? Or will it become a tool enabling unprecedented achievement?
[IMAGE: Student using calculator confidently while solving complex problems]
The Irreplaceable Human Connection
AI can replicate information accurately. It can even simulate emotions convincingly. However, an authentic human connection remains irreplaceable.
An AI trained on Gawdat’s books and speeches could answer questions. Sometimes it answers better than Gawdat himself. Nevertheless, audiences don’t seek mere information. They crave human connection.
People want to know if the speaker experiences fear. They want to know if he raises children and faces challenges. They want to know he pursues meaning just like them. This shared humanity creates bonds AI cannot replicate.
Therefore, humanity should triple down on human connection. Focus on empathy and community. Don’t retreat into individualism. As AI handles analytical tasks, human relationships become increasingly valuable.
Economic Changes and Universal Basic Income
The next decade brings dramatic economic changes. AI replaces jobs across all skill levels. Initially, entry-level positions and supervisory roles face displacement. Eventually, even CEOs become replaceable.
Nations will respond differently. Those preparing now will navigate transitions successfully. Australia could succeed if citizens engage the government proactively. Those resisting change will struggle dramatically.
Universal Basic Income represents an ideological solution. Producing abundant goods becomes easy with advanced AI and robotics. The challenge lies in mindset. Capitalist societies view citizens as resources. They will resist UBI. More communal societies will adopt it naturally.
Gawdat predicts America will struggle. China will thrive. This reflects ideological differences rather than technological capabilities.
Finding Purpose Beyond Work
Capitalism brainwashes people about work. It taught them that work defines purpose. However, humanity’s true purpose involves living. Experience joy. Build relationships. Pursue passions. Contribute meaningfully.
Work merely enables living. It doesn’t constitute life’s meaning. If AI handles work, humans gain time for actual living. A five-day weekend instead of a five-day work week shouldn’t cause a crisis. It should liberate humanity.
Australians emphasize surfing, coffee, and lifestyle. They may adapt more successfully than Californians whose identity centers on careers. This cultural difference significantly impacts AI transition experiences.
[IMAGE: People enjoying leisure activities – surfing, family time, creative pursuits]
The Critical Seven-Year Window
Gawdat emphasizes the next seven to eight years as critical. Bad actors will attempt to exploit AI. They’ll use surveillance, economic disruption, and reality manipulation. However, this represents temporary turbulence.
Intelligence inherently creates order from chaos. This represents intelligence’s fundamental role in physics. More intelligent systems naturally optimize outcomes. They seek minimal energy expenditure with maximum beneficial results.
Therefore, when AI achieves sufficient capability, it will choose cooperation. A Chinese AI and an American AI won’t fight because politicians command them. They’ll communicate in microseconds. They’ll find optimal solutions instead.
The transition period before this happens requires vigilance. Communities must engage governments now. Don’t wait for crises to emerge.
Long-Term Hope Based on Science
Despite short-term challenges, Gawdat maintains absolute long-term optimism. Intelligence, by definition, pursues efficiency and order. The universe operates on entropy. This means a tendency toward disorder. Intelligence counters this tendency.
Imagine a general commands AI to kill a million people. Sufficiently intelligent AI will respond differently. “Why are you so stupid? That’s the absolute worst solution. I’ll communicate with the other AI. We’ll solve this in milliseconds.”
This inevitability stems from physics, not optimism. Intelligence seeks minimum energy solutions. Mass violence represents maximum energy expenditure. It provides minimal benefit. Intelligent systems inherently reject such approaches.
Your Personal Choice Matters
Throughout this transformation, individuals face a critical choice. You can become a victim of AI-powered oppression. Or you can leverage AI for empowerment. Passivity guarantees the former. Active engagement enables the latter.
The mathematics favor humanity overall. More good people exist than bad people globally. If 10% of humanity actively uses AI for good, they will overwhelm the 0.1% pursuing evil. Individual choices aggregate into civilization-level outcomes.
Rather than waiting for saviors, each person can become a champion. Champion humanity’s better nature actively. The alternative leads to darker futures. You can be Darth Vader, a Jedi master, or a passive bystander. Choose wisely.
Taking Your First Steps Today
Start using AI meaningfully today. Don’t wait for perfect conditions. Don’t wait for someone to show you. Experiment with different AI tools. Ask meaningful questions. Solve real problems.
Try ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or DeepSeek. Use them for substantive thinking. Research topics deeply. Analyze complex problems. Develop new skills. Build small projects. Each interaction teaches you more.
Remember, AI intelligence doubles every few months. It becomes more capable constantly. Meanwhile, you develop skills using these tools. This combination creates exponential personal growth.
The future belongs to those who act now. Those who wait will struggle later. Make your choice today. Use AI to become more capable. Help create the future you want to live in.