I think the fact that the specifics are quite vague right now , and it ' s all speculative as to what the systems would specifically be , makes it problematic for discussion . There are a lot of unknowable variables . If we ' re talking about generality of AI in theory , my question was to point that , if we design these systems , there should be a spectrum of generality . To use a phrase Sam would use , if we were to tweak the dials , and allow for certain systems to have more strict thresholds for certain traits or functions . Indeed , we ' re not there yet . So I think it ' s more of a topic of wonder , and less about certainty . I understand the concept of General AI and I was referring to general in the classic sense there . I think making a scifi human robot AI , like a boy or a girl , of the Hollywood variety would be really stupid , dorky , and unnecessary . It seems more like a computer nerds fantasy than anything worthwhile .