Re: U(useful) AI?
Agree with this post. If I may add to this:
AI is basically a pattern extractor and random generator from extracted patterns. It has vast human knowledge (at least the patterns it trained from) but It cannot create something useful that was never been created before, where "useful" means it took a longer period and/or lots of experiences to attain that status.
Sure, some artists randomly throw paints around to see if something useful comes out (which is basically what AI does to "create"), but that is not usually how creators work.
AI can only improve when humans create new things and put that knowledge back to AI. Otherwise AI will become stale and can only assemble from stale patterns or randomly "create" gibberish.
Regarding AGI, we don't even know what intelligence really is or how it comes about, so how dare people say they can create AGI? It's all marketing gimmick.
Anyway, AI today helps those who already attained certain level of knowledge and just needs extra tool to enhance their craft. It does not help novices attain that level, since all they will be doing is copying someone else's work without gaining deep understanding to advance to the next level.