The new modern malady that retired FOMO

Futurist Amy Webb has identified a new phenomenon driving technology decisions: AGITA, or AGI-Triggered Anxiety. This anxiety stems from the looming promise of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), pushing companies into rapid, often unanalyzed, investments in AI.

Webb observed this firsthand when a board approved a multi-million dollar AI commitment in under twenty minutes. The only question asked by the CFO concerned payment schedules, not the purpose of the funds. Executives confessed to feeling pressured to "do something" simply to keep pace, a sentiment Webb calls "agita."

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I already know, I already know, but we had to do something.

Unlike previous anxieties like fear of paralysis or FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), which were tied to observable threats, AGITA is linked to an undefined future and a constantly shifting definition of AGI. This makes it difficult to evaluate investments, as there are no concrete products or profits yet. Companies spend resources under the guise of "building capacity" or "learning," with little accountability.

Webb draws a parallel to Japan's 1982 "Fifth Generation" project, which triggered widespread panic in the West, leading to massive, rapid capital deployment in AI research. That project ultimately failed to deliver its promised machines. To combat AGITA, Webb advocates not for reduced spending, but for a deliberate "future design" exercise. This involves asking critical questions about what needs to be true in the short and long term, how to determine failure, and when and how to evaluate progress. She stresses that there are no shortcuts; the only way to counter this anxiety is to slow down and make decisions based on evidence.

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Against 'agita' there is no shortcut worth taking: only slow down and decide with evidence.