Which country will AGI likely be created by, and does this matter?

One could argue that cultural, ethical, and societal norms of the country could potentially influence the alignment of AGI.The development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is a global effort, with contributions pouring in from around the world. However, the country that will first achieve AGI is uncertain, and it is also a matter of debate whether the geographical origin of AGI will significantly impact its alignment and behaviour.

Currently, China leads in the number of AI-related publications, producing 155,487 in 2022. During the same period, the United States produced 81,130 publications. This could suggest that these countries have a significant influence on the development and direction of AI research, including AGI. In contrast, AI models built by US companies such as OpenAI have the most users in the world at the moment. However, it's important to note that the creation of AGI involves not only the quantity but also the quality of research, and it benefits from wide inputs coming from international collaboration.

The question of where AGI will be created is complex. However, a fundamental principle in AI alignment is to create AGI that respects and upholds a broad spectrum of human values rather than being restricted to any specific cultural or national perspective. This task is challenging, as human values are diverse and sometimes conflicting which might lead to AGI systems valuing different values systems differently in line with its training and national regulations.

In conclusion, while we can track the number of publications as a measure of AI research activity in different countries, predicting which country will achieve AGI first is not straightforward. Regardless of where it is created, the goal of AI alignment is to ensure AGI behaves in a manner beneficial to all of humanity. As we continue to advance in this field, international cooperation, coordination and a diverse range of perspectives will be important in steering the development of AGI towards outcomes that are safe and beneficial for all.