Verizon CEO Schulman Warns of AGI Arrival Imminent
Verizon CEO Dan Schulman predicts that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could arrive within the next 18 months, potentially as early as the end of 2026. Speaking at the Ford Pro Accelerate event in Detroit, Schulman stated that current AI models are already obsolete and will be replaced by significantly more powerful ones.
The Verizon CEO emphasized that AI is improving at an exponential rate, with every two-month period bringing a 'step function change' in its capabilities. This accelerated progress has led him to believe that AGI could become a reality as soon as the next six months or up to 18 months from now.
Schulman's forecast has sparked concern about the potential impact on employment, with estimates suggesting a possible 20% to 30% increase in unemployment over the next two to five years. To mitigate this risk, Verizon is investing $20 million (potentially rising to $60 million) in retraining its employees for AI-related work.
The company's 'AI-native' strategy involves integrating AI into its core operations rather than treating it as an add-on. This includes building a four-layer AI technology stack by November 2026 and leveraging partnerships, such as the recently announced $1 billion deal with Google, to drive revenue from AI infrastructure.