Is there any reason to believe, strong AI is around the corner? I am not really engaged with AI-research, but I follow the area with interest and my impression

Is there any reason to believe, strong AI is around the corner? I am not really engaged with AI-research, but I follow the area with interest and my impression is, that if strong AI will emerge in the next time, then only by accident. I mean there are lot's of awesome advancements and for example I did not expect Go to be solved since years already, but still - I see no way from current tech, to a general AI, that can really understand things. Or is someone aware of more groundbreaking research?