Artificial intelligence is no longer just typing or analyzing numbers; it is trying to understand what it sees. What we call visual intelligence is when an artificial intelligence system goes beyond looking at an image and saying “what is this”. In other words, not just recognizing a face, but intuiting the emotion in that face, understanding the meaning of a movement, perceiving the spirit of an environment. This development leads us to a bigger question: Is artificial intelligence really getting closer to “intelligence”? This is where AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) comes in. AGI is the ability of a system to understand not just specific tasks, but many different areas at the same time. Imagine an artificial intelligence that can solve math problems, write poetry and empathize at the same time. This is something beyond today’s narrowly intelligent systems. Visual intelligence is one of the cornerstones of this dream. Because human intelligence is largely based on visual perception. Reading intentions from a glance, navigating a space, intuiting emotion from a gesture… These are not only technical, but also social and emotional skills. As artificial intelligence steps into these areas, it is one step closer to AGI. Today, computer vision systems successfully perform tasks such as face recognition, object classification, motion analysis and emotion detection. Autonomous vehicles recognize traffic signs and pedestrians. Healthcare systems can make diagnoses from X-ray and MRI images. Game engines can react to a player’s facial expression. But these examples are still limited to specific tasks.
A true visual intelligence means a system that understands context, can flex and interpret according to the situation. At this point, AGI discussions become even more important. Because visual intelligence is not just about “seeing”; it is about “making sense”. And interpretation is one of the most human dimensions of intelligence. For a person to look at a scene and say “something is wrong here” is not only about the eye, but also about intuition, experience and context. AGI needs a much deeper understanding of visual intelligence to reach this level.
Of course, these developments are not only technical; they also raise ethical and philosophical questions. A system equipped with visual intelligence can analyze individuals’ behavior, predict their intentions and influence their decisions. This poses new risks for fundamental human rights such as privacy, autonomy and security. It is not enough for an AI system to “see” us; it also needs to “understand” us. And this understanding must be intertwined with ethics, values and humanity.
