Forem: Pratyush-Nirwan

What is AGI? A Simple Guide to Artificial General Intelligence

Pratyush-Nirwan — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 21:46:52 +0000

We live in a world surrounded by Artificial Intelligence (AI). It suggests the movies we watch, helps us navigate through traffic, and even answers our random questions at midnight. But when people talk about the “future of AI,” one word often pops up: AGI.

If you’ve ever wondered what on earth is AGI and why people are so obsessed with it, let’s break it down in plain English.

🌐 So, what is AGI?

AGI stands for Artificial General Intelligence.

Think of today’s AI (like ChatGPT, Siri, or Netflix’s recommendation system) as a specialist. It’s really good at one thing, but take it out of that zone and it’s completely lost.
Now imagine an all-rounder. A system that can learn anything, solve problems in different areas, and adapt like a human being. That’s what AGI would be.

In short:

👉 Today’s AI = “I’m great at one subject.”

👉 AGI = “I can learn anything you throw at me.”

🚀 Why does AGI matter?

AGI is exciting because it would be like having a super-smart friend who can help with… well, pretty much anything:

💊 Healthcare: AGI could help doctors instantly figure out what’s wrong.
📚 Education: Struggling with a math problem? It could explain it better than any tutor.
🎨 Creativity: It could brainstorm a story, design, or even music with you.

It’s basically the dream of creating a machine that’s not just a tool, but a thinking partner.

⚠️ But here’s the catch...

We’re not there yet. What we have today is narrow AI—powerful but limited. Even the smartest systems don’t truly “understand” the world like humans do.

And here’s the big question:

👉 If we do manage to build AGI, will it be a helpful teammate… or something we can’t control?

That’s why researchers are cautious. AGI could make life easier, but it also raises concerns about jobs, privacy, and how much power we hand over to machines.

🛤️ The road ahead

No one knows when AGI will arrive—it could be decades away, or it might surprise us sooner. For now, scientists and engineers are trying to figure out how to make it:

Safe ✅
Fair ⚖️
Aligned with human values ❤️

💡 Final thought

AGI is basically the dream of giving machines a mind that’s as flexible as ours. It could transform how we live, work, and create. But like any powerful invention, the real challenge will be making sure it benefits humanity.

For now, we’re still in the “teaching AI its ABCs” stage. The journey toward AGI is just beginning—and it’s one of the most fascinating stories unfolding in our lifetime.

Not just another guide to coding.

Pratyush-Nirwan — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 18:55:06 +0000

So you want to start coding but don't know where to start?
Well, I am here to tell you how you can become a programmer and lose your social interaction skills. Remember, you either get both or none, the choice is yours!

So am I going to tell you that you should do this course and that course?

Nope, not at all.
I am actually here to propose a different way of learning!
Behold, "LEARN WHILE YOU DO IT" or, in simpler terms, interactive learning or hands-on learning.

How do you do it?

Here are the steps:
1) Get a glass of water.
2) Find out what you want to learn.
3) Find a simple use case for that.
4) Start doing it.

And if you ever need any help, the internet is at your service!

You want to learn Python?

-> Start by making a simple calculator in Python!

You want to learn Node.js?

-> Make a Discord bot (this's how I learned it)

Want to learn web development?

-> Make a goddamn portfolio website (again, that's how I learned it)

and I could go on and on and on..

The thing is, if you try to "learn" or in many people's case, memorize coding, all you will be is a monkey who knows to do some sort of hand and leg movement (dance) to get treats. Does the monkey know how to dance? No. Is he dancing? Yes!

I hope you get my point.

Also, writing code down to learn it isn't going to do you any good either.
You can't learn something using pen and paper, which is only used digitally. You gotta get in there and mash that keyboard.

Talk to other coders!

Yes, I mentioned you would lose your social interaction skills, but that was obviously a joke.
Or was it?
Anyway, you should talk with other people tell them what you have understood, and they will clear up your misunderstandings, which there will be plenty of, trust me. And also guide you along your journey.

Teach others or just yourself!

This is a real thing and I have experienced this myself. If you teach someone something, your understanding of that subject or concept gets better! This is because to teach someone something they don't know, you need to break it down into simpler pieces for them to understand.
And the best thing is you don't need someone to be sitting in front of you listening to your gibberish about how it is easier to write "hello world" in Python rather than in any other language.
You have yourself!
Teach yourself or just act like you are teaching someone, sure your roommate might think you are possessed or something...

but it's worth it!

Come on now, shoooo!
Come back to thank me later :)

Is AI the end of programmers?

Pratyush-Nirwan — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 12:40:02 +0000

What famous people have said:

(Insert a list of famous people who have quoted that AI will take over programmer jobs here)

Where is the list?

I am too lazy to research for the list, so I went to the two most famous AI's ChatGPT and Google Bard (now Gemini) and tried for like 20 times to get them to give me a list and gave up because both of them were either straight up denying that people have said anything like "AI will be the end of programmers" or just gave me a list of people who said AI will end humanity.

Now, are they trying to tell me not to look into small things like programmers losing jobs because of AI, as they are going to end humanity anyway? That is not my concern.

Anyway, back on topic..

Is AI the end of programmers?

No.
(well that was kinda anticlimactic let me write some more)

AI is not going to be the end of programmers not now, not ever.

Sure, it can generate an extremely realistic image of a dog eating a banana while sitting on a purple couch.

But the thing to keep in mind here is that there are also times when it straight up SHOVED THE BANANA INTO THE POOR DOGGO'S THROAT!

Let's see this from a different perspective, but do the same thing.
If you tell a human to do the same thing, no human in its right mind will draw the banana getting shoved in the dog's throat (at least not when he is told to draw a dog eating banana on a purple couch)

The thing is, AI is dumb.
and

If (you == 'dumb'){
    you.cantCode();
}

So AI can't code.
Sure, it will write code, but that doesn't mean that code will be correct and efficient at the same time. It may write correct code, but that code may be inefficient. And if you push that into production, you will get fired.
Note: The boss doesn't care if you are an AI or a human. He WILL fire you if you mess up.

So is AI useless?

No! not at all. It will be used as a tool! How?, you say.
Okay, here's the thing.
Where does AI get all its data from? The internet! And where do you search "How to center a div"? That's right on the internet!
We programmers can use AI as a tool to help us solve our problems faster. Normally, when we get stuck somewhere, we generally search on the internet for the solution, only to find the answer on a random 7-year-old Stack Overflow post. But with AI, we can just tell the AI our problem; it searches the internet and gives us the solution right away!
Sure, it may not be an entirely correct solution, but we at least get something within 5 seconds rather than spending 5 hours scouring the internet.

I even used AI as a tool for writing this blog!
(The dog images, and also, I didn't know how to add GIF's to blogs, so that too. Heck even the cover photo for this blog is generated using AI...just don't look too closely on the woman's face)

So yeah, I used AI to write a blog stating that AI is dumb.
If I go missing, you know what happened :)

Cheers!

Clean your code! Thank me later..

Pratyush-Nirwan — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 13:26:06 +0000

Clean Code Principles: Writing Code That Doesn't Make You Want to Scream 🤯

Hey there, fellow coder! We all know the feeling of looking at a piece of code and thinking, "What on earth is happening here?" That's where clean code comes to the rescue. Let's dive into the world of clean code principles and why they're the secret sauce to maintaining your sanity in the coding game.

What the Heck Is Clean Code?

Clean code is like the rockstar of the coding world. It's the code that doesn't make your eyes twitch when you read it. It's code that's so clear, even your grandma would understand (well, maybe not, but you get the idea). Clean code is code that doesn't make you want to throw your computer out the window.

Why Bother with Clean Code?

Clean code isn't just about making your code look pretty; it has some seriously practical perks:

1. Readability:

Clean code is easy to read, so you can understand it without performing interpretive dance.
It's like a good book that you can't put down because it's so darn interesting.

2. Maintainability:

Clean code is easier to maintain because it's less likely to turn into a Frankenstein monster.
When you need to make changes, clean code won't fight back like a rebellious teenager.

3. Collaboration:

Clean code makes collaborating with your coding buddies a breeze.
No more deciphering cryptic hieroglyphics; everyone's on the same page.

4. Debugging:

Debugging is less of a hair-pulling experience with clean code.
Say goodbye to the days of not being able to find a bug (just as you can't find a partner).

Clean Code Principles for the Win

Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty of how to write clean code without losing your mind.

1. Sensational Names:

Give your variables, functions, and classes names that make sense.
Forget about those one-letter variables; go for the full words.

2. Tiny Functions:

Keep your functions small and focused, like a laser beam.
Don't let your functions grow into code monsters; follow the Single Responsibility Principle.

3. Chill with Comments:

Use comments sparingly; aim for code that's self-explanatory.
Reserve comments for the really tricky stuff or your personal jokes.

4. Party with Formatting:

Stick to a consistent coding style; no one likes a style-shifter.
Indentation, spacing, and naming conventions should be as predictable as your daily coffee order.

5. Anti-Duplication Dance:

Avoid code duplication like it's the plague (DRY principle).
Wrap common stuff in functions, classes, or libraries, and reuse them like a pro.

6. Testing Is Cool:

Write unit tests to keep your code in check.
Testing is like having a safety net for your code acrobatics.

7. Refactor Like a Boss:

Don't let your code turn into a horror story; refactor regularly.
Tackle technical debt head-on and make your code shine.

8. KISS Principle:

Keep It Simple, Stupid!
Complexity is the enemy; simplicity is your best friend.

In Conclusion

Clean code is not just a fancy idea; it's a game-changer in the world of coding. It makes your life easier, your code more enjoyable, and your collaborators less likely to strangle you. So, make an effort to write clean code, refactor that mess when you see it, and be the coding superhero you were born to be.

Keep it clean, my friend, and happy coding!

Awesome way to present your code!

Pratyush-Nirwan — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 14:29:32 +0000

There might come various times when you need to present your code to others, it might be a meeting, a presentation, or even school/college assignments!

What do normal people do, they fire up the code editor and take a screenshot or copy paste the code when needed.

What you can do however is to make it the most beautiful code one would have ever seen.

Now focus!!😐

Look at this:

Now look at this:

I think its pretty clear which one looks better.

So how to make your code look awesome?

Its pretty simple.
Head over to Carbon
Its an open source code beautifier (that's what I like to call it)

Once you have are on the site, its pretty straight forward, you don't need to create any accounts or anything like that.

Just type in your code, change the themes and colors according to your choice and click Export!

Check my website out at pcoder.me
Make sure to leave a heart❤️

GitHub student developer pack?

Pratyush-Nirwan — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 12:49:50 +0000

What is GitHub student developer pack?

If you are a computer science student, you must know about GitHub. If you don't know what GitHub is, here's a brief explanation:

At a high level, GitHub is a website and cloud-based service that helps developers store and manage their code, as well as track and control changes to their code.
-source

I definitely read it before copying and pasting it here, trust me.

So what is the GitHub Student developer pack?

Student developer pack is a service that is provided by GitHub to students all over the world. It gives you free access to many paid online courses, applications and services like domains, web hosting etc. and a Bonus!, you get GitHub Pro for free too!

And these are not just any random cheap things that you get. They are actually useful.

How to get GitHub Student developer pack?

First of all you are going to need something to prove that you are a student.
This can be:

Email address provided to you by your school/college.
Proof of admission for example your school/college ID.

Now, create a GitHub account if you don't already have one

Now follow the steps:

1. Go to education.github.com/pack

2. Click on the 'Sign up for Student Developer pack' button

3. Click on 'Get Student benefits' button

4. Sign in if it asks to do so

5. Scroll down a bit and enter the email address provided to you by your school/college

6. Enter the name of your school

7. In the 'How do you plan to use GitHub?' field, write something that is true and don't exaggerate or tell lies
In my case, I just wanted the free stuff, so I wrote that.

8. Click continue, it will ask for your permission to check your location, grant it.

9. In the next page select your school/college from the map and fill in the details that follow.

10. In the next page upload your your school ID or any document that proves that you are a student of that college

11. Now click on 'Process my application' button and your application will be submitted.

Now all you have to do is wait, it won't take long though. Usually it takes from a few hours to a few days.
You will receive an email confirming that you have been approved for the GitHub Student Developer pack.

Voila! That's how you get the GitHub Student developer pack!
Happy coding!