Super intelligence is not a future event, but an existing phenomenon in human society, according to Shopify co-founder and CEO Tobi Lütke. He defines super intelligence as something vastly smarter than individuals in the aggregate, accessible through society, cities, and communities. Lütke illustrates this by describing how he, as a homeowner in Toronto, relies on specialized individuals for tasks like HVAC or plumbing, enabling him to maintain the illusion of self-sufficiency while being part of a larger, intelligent system.
Humans have always created super intelligence around them through specialization. No single person possesses intelligence equal across all domains; instead, individuals specialize and contribute to a collective intelligence. This collective intelligence is governed by systems and checks, such as police for safety, which allow it to function effectively.
Lütke predicts that the emergence of synthetic super intelligence will not be a sudden, dramatic event, but a gradual increase in the net amount of intelligence funneled into this existing collective super intelligence. He draws a parallel to the Turing test, which, despite earlier predictions of a watershed moment, was solved without fanfare. The increased intelligence from AI will enhance the vibrancy of communities and cities by projecting more intelligence into important problems. Lütke suggests that super intelligence is already present, noting that no human can perform all the tasks an advanced AI like GT 5.6 solo can.