Grab your coffee. Sit down. Because we’re about to talk about someone who invented the smartphone back in the early 90s — before the internet even existed for most people — and who is now looking at AI and saying: “Guys, you have no idea what’s coming.”
That someone is Marc Porat. Co-founder of General Magic, the Apple spin-off that built the “Pocket Crystal” — basically your iPhone — in 1992. A decade ahead of time. No internet infrastructure. No App Store. Just pure vision.
He missed once. He won’t let us miss twice.
General Magic was too early. The infrastructure didn’t exist yet. Commercial failure — but its DNA later powered the iPod, iPhone, Android, and every intelligent agent you use today. So when Marc Porat talks about superintelligence, people listen. Because he’s been right before.
The “Fog Bank”: Welcome to the Blur Before Every Revolution
Marc uses a metaphor I love: the “fog bank.” Before every major tech shift, there’s a thick wall of uncertainty. The iPhone was in that fog. The internet too. Today, superintelligent AI is sitting right inside it.
Here’s where he says we are right now:
- We’ve already passed the Turing Test — almost without noticing.
- AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) is coming. Not in 50 years. In a few.
- After AGI? Superintelligence — AI that outperforms humans in every domain.
The Bright Side (And It’s Actually Bright)
Marc isn’t doom-scrolling in real life. He presents both sides. Imagine a digital twin of yourself — an AI that knows your values, fears, and goals — coordinating a team of specialized agents: an AI doctor, lawyer, financial advisor, life coach. Available 24/7. No appointment needed.
For seniors, students, and professionals, he compares it to a rocket ship for the mind. As a web and SEO consultant, I’ll admit the idea of an AI agent monitoring Google’s algorithm changes while I sleep is pretty appealing. 👀
The Dark Side (Because There Is One)
For every inspiring scenario, Marc offers a sobering one:
- Jobs: automation is no longer just hitting factories. Knowledge workers — lawyers, doctors, developers — are next.
- Surveillance: AI companions without ethical guardrails could become mass manipulation tools.
- Geopolitics: China is producing 4x more STEM graduates than the US and building entire cities around AI research.
- Military: autonomous drone swarms guided by AI. No longer science fiction.
Marc calls this humanity’s “final exam.” Which is both poetic and mildly terrifying.
So What Do We Actually Do?
His practical advice: start building your digital twin now. Learn to work with AI rather than against it. And keep your eyes wide open.
Watch the full talk on the Walker Webcast on YouTube. Highly recommended — especially if you enjoy finishing your coffee with a side of existential clarity. ☕