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The Emergence of Artificial General Intelligence (A.G.I.) and the Role of Africa’s Youth in Building a Cooperative Movement Abstract The rapid emergence of Artificial General Intelligence (A.G.I.) is reshaping the world, and Africa’s burgeoning youth population holds the key to leveraging this technology. In this paper, we explore how the cooperative movement, guided by the Schwartz Value Framework, can empower African youth to create a transformative cooperative ecosystem. We discuss key challenges, case studies, implications, and benefits, along with recommendations for fostering cooperative growth. By harnessing the values of benevolence, universalism, and self-direction, African cooperatives can address poverty, unemployment, and hopelessness, ultimately contributing to sustainable development. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) represents the pinnacle of artificial intelligence capabilities. Unlike specialized AI systems, AGI possesses cognitive abilities comparable to those of humans, including reasoning, problem-solving, perception, learning, and language comprehension. While AGI remains theoretical at this stage, its potential impact on our economies, societies, and daily lives is immense. The journey toward AGI involves surpassing the Turing test—a milestone where AI’s abilities become indistinguishable from human capabilities. Although recent breakthroughs in generative AI (such as ChatGPT and DALL-E) have garnered attention, they are still far from achieving AGI. These tools excel at prediction based on extensive training data but lack the nuanced creativity, logical reasoning, and sensory perception inherent in human cognition. Predicting AGI’s arrival is challenging. Some experts believe it may take decades or even centuries, while others speculate it won’t happen within this century. Rodney Brooks, a roboticist, suggests AGI won’t emerge until the year 2300. Regardless of the timeline, AGI will revolutionize every aspect of our lives, businesses, and societies. Africa’s youth can play a pivotal role in shaping AGI’s development. By fostering cooperative movements, they can contribute to AGI research, ethical considerations, and decision-making. AGI’s impact will be profound, and proactive engagement by Africa’s youth can help ensure its responsible and equitable deployment. Artificial intelligence (AI) researchers have been developing and refining large language models (LLMs) that exhibit remarkable capabilities across various domains and tasks. The latest model, GPT-4, developed by OpenAI, was trained using an unprecedented scale of compute and data. In this study, we investigate an early version of GPT-4, still in active development. We contend that this early version of GPT-4 is part of a new cohort of LLMs (including ChatGPT and Google’s PaLM) that exhibit more general intelligence than previous AI models. In summary, AGI represents a transformative leap beyond current AI capabilities, and Africa’s youth have a unique opportunity to participate in shaping its future Introduction The world is witnessing a seismic shift with the rise of Artificial General Intelligence (A.G.I.). As this technology evolves, Africa’s youthful population becomes increasingly pivotal. With over 60% of Africans under the age of 25 and an estimated 42% of global youth by 2030, Africa’s youth hold immense potential for shaping the future. In this paper, we delve into how the cooperative movement, guided by the Schwartz Value Framework, can empower African youth to build a great cooperative ecosystem. Africa, with its youthful demographic dividend, stands at a critical juncture. As the continent grapples with economic challenges, social disparities, and the need for sustainable development, the cooperative movement emerges as a potent force for positive change. In this discussion, we explore how Africa’s youth, armed with the Schwartz Value Framework, can ignite a cooperative revolution that transcends borders and empowers communities. 1. The Demographic Advantage: o Africa’s youth population is both its strength and its responsibility. With a median age of around 19 years, this dynamic cohort possesses energy, creativity, and a hunger for progress. Harnessing this potential is essential for building a cooperative movement that addresses pressing issues such as unemployment, poverty, and inequality. 2. The Schwartz Value Framework: o Shalom H. Schwartz’s framework identifies ten universal values that shape human behavior. These values span cultural boundaries and influence our choices, aspirations, and interactions. Let’s explore how these values intersect with cooperative principles:  Self-Direction: Africa’s youth can channel their self-determination toward cooperative entrepreneurship. By fostering self-reliance, innovation, and autonomy, they can create sustainable cooperatives that meet community needs.  Stimulation: Encouraging curiosity, creativity, and learning within cooperatives can invigorate participation. Youth-led cooperatives can become hubs of experimentation, where novel ideas thrive.  Achievement: Cooperatives provide a platform for youth to achieve economic independence. By emphasizing skill development, education, and vocational training, cooperatives empower members to realize their aspirations.  Power: Cooperative structures inherently distribute power more equitably. Africa’s youth can leverage this to challenge traditional hierarchies, ensuring that decision-making is inclusive and transparent.  Universalism: Cooperatives embody the spirit of universalism by promoting collective well-being. Youth-led cooperatives can address community health, education, and environmental sustainability.  Benevolence: Compassion and empathy drive cooperative values. Africa’s youth can infuse cooperatives with benevolence, supporting marginalized groups and fostering social cohesion.  Tradition: Respecting cultural heritage while embracing modernity is vital. Youth-led cooperatives can blend tradition with innovation, preserving local wisdom while adapting to global trends.  Conformity: Cooperative norms encourage collaboration and consensus-building. Africa’s youth can use this value to bridge diverse perspectives and create cooperative networks.  Security: Cooperatives offer economic security. By pooling resources, youth-led cooperatives can mitigate risks and provide safety nets for their members.  Hedonism: Celebrating joy, leisure, and shared experiences within cooperatives fosters a sense of belonging. Africa’s youth can infuse cooperatives with vibrancy and celebration. 3. Reaching the Uninitiated: o Many individuals have never derived value from cooperatives due to lack of awareness or misconceptions. Africa’s youth can bridge this gap by organizing educational campaigns, dispelling myths, and showcasing successful cooperative models. By demonstrating tangible benefits, they can attract new members and foster cooperative participation. 4. The Call to Action: o Africa’s youth must collaborate across borders, leveraging technology and cultural exchange. They can create a cooperative ecosystem that transcends national boundaries, amplifying impact and advocating for policies that support cooperatives. Africa’s youth, guided by the Schwartz Value Framework, can ignite a cooperative movement that uplifts communities, promotes sustainable development, and empowers generations to come. Key Problems Let’s explore the key problems associated with the discussion on the emergence of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and how Africa’s burgeoning youth population, with their medium age, can construct a powerful cooperative movement using Shalom H. Schwartz’s value framework. 1. AGI Risks and Uncertainties: AGI presents enormous benefits but also significant risks. This risk involves the AGI removing itself from human control, developing unsafe goals, poor ethics, inadequate management, and existential threats. Discussing AGI without addressing these risks can lead to incomplete solutions. 1. Lack of Thorough Theory for AGI: o Unlike narrow AI systems, AGI aims to surpass human intelligence in all aspects. However, there is no comprehensive and systematic theory of AGI. Without a clear understanding of AGI’s foundations, discussions may lack depth and practical applicability. 2. Diverse Routes to AGI: o AGI can be achieved through various subsystems and approaches. Integrating these diverse paths requires careful consideration. Focusing solely on one route may limit the scope of cooperative strategies. 3. Limited Peer-Reviewed Literature: o The existing literature on AGI risks is relatively sparse. Few peer-reviewed articles specifically address AGI risk research, definitions, and standardized terminology. Ignoring this limitation may hinder effective cooperative planning. 4. Domain-Specific Implementation Challenges: o AGI’s impact will vary across domains (e.g., healthcare, agriculture, finance). Africa’s youth must tailor cooperative efforts to specific contexts, considering local needs and challenges. 5. Balancing Tradition and Innovation: o Cooperatives should blend cultural heritage with modernity. Finding this balance ensures relevance while preserving local wisdom. Africa’s youth must navigate this delicate equilibrium. 6. Engaging Uninitiated Individuals: o Many people have never derived value from cooperatives due to lack of awareness or misconceptions. Outreach efforts should address these gaps, emphasizing tangible benefits and dispelling myths. 7. Ethical Considerations: o Cooperatives must align with ethical values. Africa’s youth can infuse benevolence, compassion, and empathy into cooperative models, fostering social cohesion and inclusivity. 8. Transcending National Boundaries: o Africa’s youth should collaborate across borders, leveraging technology and cultural exchange. A cooperative movement that transcends national boundaries can amplify impact and advocate for supportive policies. 9. AGI’s Role in Cooperative Management: o AGI can enhance cooperative decision-making, resource allocation, and efficiency. Integrating AGI tools within cooperative structures requires thoughtful planning. In summary, addressing AGI risks, embracing diversity, and tailoring cooperative efforts to local contexts are essential for Africa’s youth to build a cooperative movement that reaches those who have not yet benefited from cooperatives. The Cooperative Movement: A Historical Overview Pre-Colonial Africa Cooperatives in Africa have deep historical roots, dating back to pre-colonial times. While the modern internationally recognized cooperative organizations were introduced by colonial powers, indigenous cooperative practices existed. These early cooperatives were often community-based, emphasizing collective well-being and mutual support. Colonial Africa Colonial powers formalized cooperative structures, aiming to enhance economic development. However, their focus was often on exploiting resources rather than empowering local communities. Despite this, cooperatives played a role in agricultural marketing, acting as intermediaries between farmers and state marketing boards. Post-Colonial Africa After gaining independence, African countries continued to promote cooperatives as vehicles for development. State-controlled policies and legislation shaped the cooperative landscape. However, challenges persisted, including limited autonomy and a lack of alignment with international cooperative principles. Era of Liberal Capitalism In recent decades, Africa has shifted toward liberalization, allowing cooperatives greater autonomy. Market-driven cooperatives have emerged, responding to economic demands. African youth have actively participated in shaping these cooperatives, especially in sectors like agriculture, industry, IT, and sustainability. The Schwartz Value Framework Shalom H. Schwartz’s value framework identifies ten fundamental human values, transcending cultural boundaries. These values include self-direction, benevolence, universalism, and security. By aligning cooperative principles with these values, African cooperatives can effectively reach out to people who have not yet derived value from cooperative systems. Case Studies and Implications Case Study 1: Youth-Led Agricultural Cooperatives In Ghana, young farmers have formed cooperatives to pool resources, share knowledge, and access markets. By emphasizing benevolence (welfare of the in-group) and universalism (welfare of all), these cooperatives address poverty and food insecurity. Case Study 2: Tech Start-ups African youth are driving tech start-ups, applying self-direction and universalism values. These cooperatives disrupt traditional industries, create jobs, and foster innovation. Key Findings: 1. Beyond Language Mastery: GPT-4 can solve novel and difficult tasks spanning mathematics, coding, vision, medicine, law, psychology, and more—without specific prompting. Its performance often rivals human-level capabilities and surpasses prior models like ChatGPT. 2. Toward AGI: Given the breadth and depth of GPT-4’s capabilities, it could reasonably be viewed as an early (yet still incomplete) version of an artificial general intelligence (AGI) system. 3. Limitations and Challenges: Our exploration emphasizes discovering GPT-4’s limitations. We discuss the need for a new paradigm beyond next-word prediction to advance toward comprehensive AGI. 4. Societal Implications: We reflect on the societal impact of this technological leap and outline future research directions. Benefits to the Sector and Industry • Economic Growth: Cooperatives contribute to GDP growth by empowering youth-led enterprises. • Social Inclusion: Cooperatives bridge gaps, ensuring marginalized groups benefit from economic activities. • Sustainable Development: Cooperatives align with universalism values, promoting environmental stewardship. Benefits and Impacts of Africa’s Youth-Driven Cooperative Movement Africa’s youth, with their energy, creativity, and determination, hold the key to transforming cooperative dynamics across the continent. By embracing the Schwartz Value Framework, they can create a cooperative movement that transcends boundaries and uplifts communities. Here are the benefits and impacts of their endeavor: 1. Economic Empowerment: o Cooperatives provide economic stability and self-reliance. Africa’s youth-led cooperatives can generate employment, enhance livelihoods, and foster entrepreneurship. By pooling resources, members gain access to markets, credit, and training. 2. Community Development: o Cooperatives address local needs. Youth-driven cooperatives can improve healthcare, education, agriculture, and infrastructure. They become hubs for community development, promoting sustainable practices and social cohesion. 3. Inclusivity and Social Equity: o The Schwartz Value Framework emphasizes universalism and benevolence. Africa’s youth can create cooperatives that empower marginalized groups—women, minorities, and vulnerable populations. Inclusivity ensures equitable distribution of benefits. 4. Cultural Preservation: o Cooperatives blend tradition with innovation. Africa’s youth can preserve cultural heritage while adapting to modern challenges. By integrating local wisdom, cooperatives become agents of cultural continuity. 5. Youth Engagement and Participation: o Youth-led cooperatives foster active citizenship. They encourage youth to take ownership, participate in decision-making, and contribute to their communities. Cooperatives become platforms for youth leadership. 6. Environmental Sustainability: o Cooperatives can promote eco-friendly practices. Africa’s youth can create cooperatives focused on renewable energy, waste management, and conservation. By aligning with universalism and tradition, they protect the environment. 7. Knowledge Sharing and Skill Development: o Cooperatives facilitate knowledge exchange. Youth-led cooperatives can organize workshops, mentorship programs, and vocational training. Members learn practical skills and build networks. 8. Advocacy and Policy Influence: o Cooperatives amplify collective voices. Africa’s youth can advocate for policies that support cooperatives, fair trade, and social justice. By engaging with policymakers, they shape the cooperative landscape. 9. Cross-Border Collaboration: o Technology enables global connections. Youth-led cooperatives can collaborate beyond national borders, sharing best practices, innovations, and resources. A cooperative movement spanning Africa strengthens collective impact. 10. Breaking Myths and Stereotypes: o Many individuals have never derived value from cooperatives due to misconceptions. Africa’s youth can challenge these myths through awareness campaigns, success stories, and transparent communication. Africa’s youth, guided by the Schwartz Value Framework, can ignite a cooperative revolution—one that empowers individuals, preserves culture, and builds a resilient, interconnected Africa Recommendations Here are the recommendations for the emergence of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and the role of Africa’s youth in building a cooperative movement Promote AGI Literacy and Awareness: o Educate Africa’s youth about AGI, its potential, and ethical considerations. Foster discussions, workshops, and awareness campaigns to demystify AGI. 2. Invest in AGI Research and Education: o Cooperatives should collaborate with educational institutions and research centers to explore AGI applications. Create AGI-focused training programs for youth. 3. Leverage Cooperatives for AGI Skill Development: o Establish cooperative-led AGI learning hubs. Provide courses, workshops, and mentorship programs to equip youth with AGI-related skills. 4. Create Youth-Led AGI Cooperatives: o Encourage youth to form AGI-focused cooperatives. Collaborate on AGI projects, share resources, and address AGI challenges collectively. 5. Advocate for AGI Policies and Regulations: o Engage policymakers to create an enabling environment for AGI development. Advocate for policies supporting AGI research, ethical guidelines, and responsible deployment. 6. Facilitate Cross-Border Cooperation: o Foster collaboration between African and global youth cooperatives. Share best practices, exchange knowledge, and explore AGI opportunities together. 7. Address AGI’s Societal Impact: o Recommendation: Actively discuss AGI’s implications—employment, ethics, and social well-being. Engage youth in shaping AGI policies and guidelines. 8. Promote Cooperative Entrepreneurship in AGI: o Encourage youth to view AGI as an entrepreneurial opportunity. Incubate AGI startups within cooperatives. 9. Collaborate with AGI Research Institutions: o Partner with AGI research institutions, universities, and industry experts. Jointly explore AGI applications and share insights. 10. Embrace AGI’s Holistic Dimension: o Consider AGI’s triple bottom line—economic prosperity, social well-being, and environmental sustainability. 11. Education and Training: Equip youth with cooperative management skills. 12. Policy Support: Governments should create an enabling environment for cooperative growth. 13. Networking and Collaboration: Foster partnerships among cooperatives for collective impact. Summary and Conclusions In conclusion, Africa’s youth, guided by the Schwartz Value Framework, can ignite a cooperative movement that uplifts communities, promotes sustainable development, and empowers generations to come. Africa’s youth, guided by the Schwartz Value Framework, can build a vibrant cooperative movement. By embracing values that prioritize collective welfare, African cooperatives will not only survive but thrive, contributing to a more equitable and sustainable future. Africa’s youth, guided by the Schwartz Value Framework, can ignite a cooperative revolution—one that empowers individuals, preserves culture, and builds a resilient, interconnected Africa Africa’s youth, guided by cooperative principles, can actively participate in AGI discussions, skill development, and cooperative entrepreneurship. By integrating AGI into cooperative movements, they can shape a future where AGI benefits all. This paper synthesizes the emergence of A.G.I., Africa’s youth potential, and cooperative principles.