We don't need AGI, whatever that is.
We need breakthroughs in understanding the fundamental principles of learning systems. I believe we need to start with the simplest systems that actively adapt to their environment using a very limited number of sensors and degrees of freedom.
Then scale up from there in sophistication, integration and hierarchy.
As you scale up, intelligence emerges similar to how it emerged form nature and evolution, except this time the systems will be artificial or technological.