Verizon CEO Predicted Artificial General Intelligence Arrival
The telecommunications giant projected AGI within 18 months while outlining a long-term AI infrastructure strategy.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Verizon CEO Dan Schulman forecasted the arrival of artificial general intelligence (AGI) within the next six to 18 months. The company also announced a strategic shift toward an AI-native operational model and new infrastructure partnerships.
Why it matters
Schulman stated that current AI models represent the least powerful versions of the technology that will ever exist, prompting Verizon to prepare for rapid shifts in the labor market. The company projects potential unemployment increases of 20% to 30% over the next two to five years, driving its massive investment in workforce retraining.
Verizon has committed $20 million toward internal AI retraining, with a potential scale-up to $60 million. These efforts support the development of a four-layer AI technology stack alongside a $1 billion dark fiber agreement with Google.
The players
Dan Schulman
The CEO of Verizon who is currently overseeing a company-wide pivot toward AI-native operations and infrastructure integration.
Verizon
A major American telecommunications carrier that manages massive network infrastructure and is expanding into edge-computing and AI services.
A global technology leader providing cloud, AI, and extensive fiber-optic infrastructure, including the dark fiber capacity recently secured by Verizon.
The details
Verizon is transitioning its business operations to an AI-native model, an approach that prioritizes machine-learning integration across all internal layers rather than as a secondary service. This strategy relies on securing critical infrastructure, including edge-compute capabilities and dark fiber—high-capacity glass cabling not yet connected to existing telecommunications services—to support data-intensive AI workloads.
Timeline
November 2026: Verizon aims to complete its four-layer AI technology stack.
2027: Verizon expects revenue contributions from its AI infrastructure efforts.
The Tech Race
This forecast extends the industry-wide expectation established by the OpenAI scaling laws research program, shifting the timeline for AGI from speculative theory to a near-term corporate planning horizon. Verizon is moving to secure the infrastructure, such as edge-compute and dark fiber, necessary to compete as these models mature.
Verizon employees will begin participating in the firm's $20 million retraining program as the company scales its internal AI-native operations. Consumers and business clients should expect to see the impact of these infrastructure upgrades on network performance by 2027.
The takeaway
The company is banking on a rapid acceleration of AI capability, prioritizing infrastructure stability and workforce agility to mitigate projected economic disruption. Watch for the completion of the four-layer technology stack in November 2026 to gauge the firm's progress toward its internal AI integration goals.
Further reading
For broader trends in the sector, visit the Artificial Intelligence section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Crypto Briefing.
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