“in my view it’s a subtle redefinition that dramatically moves the goal posts.”
Our reading, the sentence that was checked:
In Marcus's view, Legg's definition of AGI as better than typical human performance on virtually all cognitive tasks is a subtle redefinition that dramatically moves the goal posts, compared with how Legg and Marcus publicly discussed the term last year.
Assessment: Unresolved Evidence as of
Where and when Gary Marcus wrote it
Marcus on AI, No, Virginia, AGI is not imminent, paragraph 4.
- Said
- Source observed
- live page, full text, public
- Evidence as of
- the cutoff for this assessment
- Assessment recorded
- assessment marcus-no-virginia-agi-is-not-imminent-d70f78-a1
We recorded 17 claims from this post. See every claim from this post.
The wording above is the version this site observed on 2026-10-29. The source may have been edited after 2023-08-20. This page does not claim the wording was captured then.
What the claim commits to
- Kind
- Observation
- Deadline, as the speaker wrote it
- None stated. This site does not add one.
- Deadline state when assessed
- No horizon
- Deadline state on 2026-10-29
- No horizon (the release’s reference date)
Conditions
- in my view (qualifier, stated by the speaker)
- compared with how he and Legg publicly discussed the term last year (scope, stated by the speaker)
From the speaker
- in my view
- a subtle redefinition
- dramatically moves the goal posts
- how he and I publicly discussed the term last year
Our interpretation
- Assess the historical assertion that Legg materially lowered his requirements between the 2022 discussion and August 2023.
- A material lowering means accepting systems that the earlier requirements would exclude, particularly on generality, resourcefulness or reliability.
- Different wording alone does not establish a lower standard. Marcus's preferred definition alone does not establish Legg's earlier commitment.
Counts as supported if: Authenticated records of both discussions show that Legg previously required materially greater capabilities and subsequently removed those requirements.
Counts as contradicted if: Authenticated records show that Legg already used substantially the same human-level standard, or that the later formulation retained the disputed requirements.
Retrospective: these criteria were written after the outcome was public.
Current assessment
Was it true for the period described?
Outcome: Unresolved
The record was checked, and the evidence available by the cutoff does not settle it.
Scored on a plain reading. The speaker named no measure for this claim, so it was judged on the reading an informed reader would take, stated below under our interpretation. Both reviews had to find that reading fair.
- Evidence as of
- Deadline state when assessed
- No horizon
- Assessment recorded
- Policy version
- 2026-10-28.7
Rationale
The allegation has a checkable historical core, despite its evaluative wording. However, the retrieved records do not permit a reliable comparison of Legg's commitments in the two exchanges. His later interview emphasizes generality, but cannot settle whether his standard changed before the post. Marcus's own characterization is insufficient independent evidence.
Limitations
- Missing original exchange records prevent a finding either way.
- Even complete records may leave the magnitude of any change open to interpretation.
Evidence (1 item)
Context only: Dwarkesh Patel,
AGI by its definition is about generality.
Why it matters here: Legg's direct interview cautions against assuming that his typical-human standard abandons generality. It does not establish what he endorsed in the 2022 exchange and falls outside the target period.
- Publisher
- Dwarkesh Patel
- Kind of source
- News report
- Describes events of
- Public from
What would settle it
Complete, authenticated copies of the 2022 and August 2023 exchanges showing Legg's definitions, endorsements and qualifications.
Where it was said (1)
Said once in the sources this register covers.
: Marcus on AI, No, Virginia, AGI is not imminent
in my view it’s a subtle redefinition that dramatically moves the goal posts.
- Where
- paragraph 4
- Published
- 2023-08-20
- Source observed
- , live page
- Access
- full text, public
History
Assessment versions
- Assessment marcus-no-virginia-agi-is-not-imminent-d70f78-a1: Current. Outcome: Unresolved. Evidence as of 2026-10-28. Public date not recorded.
Recorded events
Assessment publishedBy this site
First assessment published after both reviews and the final-text check passed.
About assessment marcus-no-virginia-agi-is-not-imminent-d70f78-a1.