Stop Worrying about AGI: The Immediate Danger is Reduced General Intelligence (RGI)

The immediate danger of AI is not a future superintelligence but the current trend of Reduced General Intelligence (RGI), a decline in human cognitive skills. Over-reliance on AI for tasks like homework and coding is leading to an atrophy of critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and creativity. This dependency can result in sloppy work, an overestimation of one's own skills, and a loss of credibility. To counteract this, individuals should make conscious choices to use AI judiciously as a tool for clarification and feedback, not as a replacement for independent thought and practice.