I think you are close to understanding, but not. People who want to create AGI want to create a god, at least very close to the definition of one that many cultures have had for much of history. Worship would be inevitable and fervent.

I don't think anybody wants to create a god that only can be controlled by worshipping and begging to it like in the history, if anything people themselves want to become god or to give themselves god-like power with AI that they have full control over. But in the process of trying to do so we could end up with the former case where we have no control over it. It's not what we wanted, but it could be what we get.

Sure, some people want to make a tool. Others really do want to create digital life, something that could have its own agency and self-direction. But if you have total control over something like that, you now have a slave, not a tool.

I think people should take their lithium.

ha... this is going to get much much much worse.