Science & Technology

Chen Qiufan: A sci-fi vision of life in 2041 | TED

Sci-fi writer Chen Qiufan doesn’t fear a dystopian future. Instead, he believes developments in artificial intelligence will make all of our lives better, healthier and safer. He takes us on a tour of the next 20 years of AI and shares some astonishing predictions for the advancements in science and technology that could await us.…

Published

3 years ago

October 8, 2021

CYBER TECH TV

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It’s 2041.

The world is even stranger than fiction.

Full of astonishing technologies
and scientific advances.

But there’s still one thing
that is very familiar.

COVID is still with us.

We’ve just figured out
how to live with it.

You haven’t been outside
of your apartment for three years.

The pandemic of 2021 traumatized you.

You still have the nightmares
about losing your grandparents

and despite advances,

fear of infection has kept you
inside and isolated.

You’ve just found out

that the lover you met
in an immersive online game

has flown halfway
around the world to meet you.

But now he’s quarantined in the hospital,

stricken with a new,

extremely virulent variant of the virus.

It looks like he might die
even before you met him.

You decide you’ve got to venture out,

into the dangerous world
beyond your four walls.

Luckily, there are robots to help you.

Your housekeeping robot
takes you to a special elevator

reserved for robots only,

allowing you to completely avoid people.

It’s crammed with all manners of bots.

DeliveryBot,

CleaningBot, SeniorCareBot,
DogWalkingBot,

even the walls and ceiling
are covered with DisinfectionBots

that resemble insects.

You cautiously step out on the street
for the first time,

eyeing the passers-by with suspicion.

You rely on your Safety Circle app
on your mobile device to keep you safe.

It alerts you with a vibration or buzz

if potential virus carriers
step too close.

The biosensor membranes
on your inner wrist

display real time physiological data,

including the expiration
of various vaccines —

and yours are three years out of date!

Without this electric identification film,

you definitely can’t get to the hospital,

or anywhere, as it’s needed
to access transportation.

Meanwhile, your device streams

real-time medical status
of your dying lover,

making it hard not to panic.

You race against the clock.

When you make it in time?

Can you even get there?

You can.

Thanks to AI-automated processes,

it was possible to synthesize
a quick-fix drug for your lover.

And technologies such as AlphaFold

will accelerate the speed of vaccine
development from years to weeks.

So, what else could happen in 2041?

Anti-fake detectors are part
of the standard configuration

for cybersecurity.

The abuse of technology such as deepfakes

to spread rumors and hatred

increase conflicts
and tear the society apart,

it’s a thing of the past.

Real personalized learning finally arrives

with customized AI companions
that calibrate creativity,

communication and compassion
to each individual equally.

Educational technology no longer
exacerbates class divisions.

With digital twins enabled
by natural language processing

and XR technologies,

Kobe Bryant, Maradona
and Whitney Houston would be reborn

and become immortal virtual characters

in your customized
entertainment experience.

2041 is just around the corner.

Only 20 years away.

And most of us watching this talk
will, if lucky enough,

be alive to experience it.

That’s why, together
with the artificial intelligence expert,

Dr. Kai-Fu Lee,

I chose to write a book
that blends science fiction realism

with the analysis, not just of technology,

but also the big ideas
that animate technology.

When most think of AI in science fiction,

it’s often dystopian.

HAL 9000, Terminator, Ex Machina —

The AI always feels competitive, hostile,

the outlook for humanity bleak.

But with our book,
we explore a different approach.

We spent almost two years

visiting labs and AI scientists,

entrepreneurs, researchers and scholars,

trying to figure out the most realistic
road map of AI development

over the next 20 years.

The AI technology
we researched into for the book

range from natural-language processing

to GPT-3, to augmented
mixed virtual reality,

computer vision, GANs,
brain-computer interfaces.

We put all this solid know-how

into predictions
and futuristic storytellings,

set in 10 different cities
all around the world.

It was not easy
to tell stories in that way.

But without disregarding
AI’s faults and nuances,

Kai-Fu and I endeavor to portray a future

where AI technology could influence
individuals and societies positively.

We wish to represent how individuals
from disparate cultures

and industries,

with different identities would react
to the future shock induced by AI.

Let’s get back to 2021, the present.

The pandemic still spans the world.

The people are still unemployed,

isolated from friends, family and nature.

Will AI really solve
all these problems?

From modern submarine to the laser gun,

from mobile phones to CRISPR,

many scientists will admit
inspiration from fiction.

Imagination does shape the world.

So for every future we wish to create,

we must first learn to imagine it.

By imagining the future
through science fiction,

we can even step in, make changes

and actively play a role
in shaping our reality.

Thank you.

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89 Comments

Brent Rogers

October 8, 2021 at 4:51 pm

I didn’t make it past a minute into this. I don’t let fear run my life. Good grief! So many so afraid of death that they quit living. I’ll take my chances…

Reply
米山春奈

October 8, 2021 at 5:00 pm

字幕日本語も対応してほしい、英語でもいいんだけど

Reply
Touch Info

October 8, 2021 at 5:05 pm

it’s might true. we can’t know. 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️👀

Reply
Griffin S-C

October 8, 2021 at 5:25 pm

This just feels like the plot every dystopian sci fi novel ever.

“We built a utopia…on the backs of slaves. We built it, but it cost our freedom. All hail the magic AI!”

Was this just made to get people to take vaccines, because it’ll have the reverse effect, sadly.

Reply
hakuna la matata

October 8, 2021 at 5:55 pm

Disclaimer:
This video may cause erectal dysfunction.

Reply
jib the world

October 8, 2021 at 5:56 pm

actually a sales pitch for a book, and it doesn’t sound like a very imaginative one.

Reply
Kay Aar

October 8, 2021 at 5:56 pm

what a load of BS

Reply
SUCCESS SYSTEMS

October 8, 2021 at 6:13 pm

*Every family has one person who breaks all odds And achieve success . I believe it’s you read this!* 🙏🙏

Reply
paul james

October 8, 2021 at 6:17 pm

I bet he doesn’t get invited to many parties……

Reply
God

October 8, 2021 at 6:33 pm

Imma call bullshit on this, even now I’m not staying inside because of covid, and I don’t know anyone that does. I am vaccinated, and I’ll take a booster when I need one. I honestly don’t see the point in trying to scare people and telling them that covid will ruin their lives forever, and that staying inside until you die is what normal people are doing.

Reply
Baraz

October 8, 2021 at 6:48 pm

Comments show that some people are not open-minded enough to hear ONE view or perspective that begins bleak ; though the rest of the video is positive 😛 Sci-fi is often bleak and dystopian as Quifan mentions.

Reply
Baraz

October 8, 2021 at 6:49 pm

Some of the suggested tech is positive, some of this is creepy I find. Tech can be used to improve our contact with other Humans no matter the diseases (beyond COVID). I mean that an AI system can help a teacher and student, but should not replace Human teachers for example.

Reply
TheStabbedGaiusJuliusCaesar

October 8, 2021 at 7:00 pm

Are we just gonna ignore that it’s a countryman of the source country that the rona originated in?

Reply
Ese Güerito

October 8, 2021 at 7:23 pm

Make this into a Netflix series lol

Reply
Simon Marousek FX

October 8, 2021 at 7:24 pm

2041 and we still face global warming.

Reply
Olivia Emmanuel

October 8, 2021 at 7:35 pm

NOBODY BECOMES MILLIONAIRE OR A BILLIONAIRE’S BY WORKING FOR OTHERS AND DEPENDING ON THEM , GOOD INVESTMENT BRING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, AND CONSISTENCY BRINGS BILLIONS, THE MARKET IS ALL ABOUT BTC AT THE MOMENT NOW…

Reply
- Liam Alexander
  
  October 8, 2021 at 7:56 pm
  
  I was skeptical about trading bitcoin untill I was introduced to Marco Riberio and I most say I’m comfortable and also understanding all the steps in this Bitcoin trading
  
  Reply
- Esther Eric
  
  October 8, 2021 at 7:57 pm
  
  @Liam Alexander Yes Bitcoin is heavily manipulated and you need a reliable broker to stay on profit and I count on Marco Riberio
  
  Reply
- Paul gassy
  
  October 8, 2021 at 7:58 pm
  
  I also attend his business seminars in california he’s one of the best in trading
  
  Reply
- Thomson Kendrick
  
  October 8, 2021 at 7:59 pm
  
  Expert Marco Riberio signals has being very helpful to me during these recent price swing you don’t need to be surprised expert Marco had made success in trading easier than we thought
  
  Reply
- Rose Roland
  
  October 8, 2021 at 8:01 pm
  
  Wow you people know him so well I even though I’m the only one he has helped walk through the fear and fall of trade
  
  Reply
Oliver Smith

October 8, 2021 at 7:40 pm

Is this a threat?

Reply
dipen007

October 8, 2021 at 7:45 pm

If the Black Mirror creators only had 7$, this would be the output

Reply
Иван Зиновьев

October 8, 2021 at 8:14 pm

What is this for? Is it pteview for ciberpank?

Reply
TheVigilante2000

October 8, 2021 at 8:45 pm

2041, I bet we still don’t have fusion power!

Reply
M W

October 8, 2021 at 10:57 pm

The only solution to that crappy life in 2041 is to LITERALLY yank those in power now out of their offices, jail them all, make examples of them, kick out any police that go along with them, arrest and imprison most of the democratic party and the far right for the same reasons, find and destroy anything related to progressivism, marx, hegel, foucault, most of the lgbt warriors, crt, all leftists in media and where this all is coming from arrest and draw and quarter all the marxist type professors that mainly started all this crap.
Then we can go back to normal.
Oh, and NO MERGING WITH COMPUTERS AT ALL. ITS NOT NECESSARY FOR ANY REASON.
ONLY EXCEPTIONS ARE MEDICAL, THATS IT!!!

Reply
Zawisza Czarny Sulima

October 8, 2021 at 11:54 pm

Is this the new normal we can expect in TED’s videos quality from now on?

Reply
CRYSTAL NEWS- REVIEW FILM

October 9, 2021 at 1:15 am

GOOD JOB… GOOD CHANNEL.. ! I SUBSCRIBE YOU.

Reply
Jackie Boyle

October 9, 2021 at 1:27 am

The Technocrat Mind is Sinister & Evil

Reply
Никита Смирнов

October 9, 2021 at 2:38 am

Asian child lol talking about his dreams. Brain death looser)

Reply
Dodomba

October 9, 2021 at 2:57 am

i should do this talk

Reply
Olivia Lopez

October 9, 2021 at 5:25 am

My life has totally changed since I started with $7,000 and now I make $ 29,450 every 11 days.

Reply
- Lopez Mary
  
  October 9, 2021 at 7:51 am
  
  Count me in,I’m placing my trades with Expert Elizabeth Armstrong Palmer ASAP.
  
  Reply
- Clark Kent
  
  October 9, 2021 at 7:52 am
  
  FINRA AGENT YOU SAID, OKAY SHE MUST BE TRUSTED ACROSS THE STATES🇺🇲
  
  Reply
- Mathias Smith
  
  October 9, 2021 at 7:53 am
  
  Wow! I invest and buy cryptocurrencies but Mostly waiting for the rise to sell. This is a great opportunity to start trading my investments to start earning right away.
  
  Reply
- Young Fredrickson
  
  October 9, 2021 at 7:54 am
  
  Am happy for your achievement in such short period of time, trading with her. She must be a very sincere woman❤️
  
  Reply
- Resonance of Illumination - Ambition of Void
  
  October 9, 2021 at 3:05 pm
  
  @Young Fredrickson lmao this entire conversation is so funny
  
  Reply
Q Handmade

October 9, 2021 at 7:32 am

I think the owner of those tractors is a rich guy.

Reply
Kevin Wells

October 9, 2021 at 8:14 am

When will your movie be released?
O.K. it was hard to make it beyond your entry… in any case… you are a very very interesting person. Thanks Chen. I’m glad I listened long enough. I’m marking this video, and looking for your writings. I bet most people that down voted you just did not listen long enough. I almost did not.

Reply
Fedoceev Channel

October 9, 2021 at 9:23 am

Nothing of that will happen. Make a screenshot.

Reply
Hazem Sarmini

October 9, 2021 at 9:50 am

Purr

Reply
Smile Please

October 9, 2021 at 10:18 am

I love how he himself acts like an AI robot 🤖 by just moving his head

Reply
- SURYA NARAYAN SAHOO
  
  October 10, 2021 at 4:58 pm
  
  Deepfake.
  
  Reply
- ales kun
  
  October 11, 2021 at 11:06 am
  
  he is from the future
  
  Reply
For An Angel

October 9, 2021 at 10:42 am

2041 is already closer to us right now than the year 2000.

Reply
D M

October 9, 2021 at 10:53 am

Looks like A.I. found some new friends/enablers. Great video though. I hope it shocks people into doing everything they can to not contract or transmit Covid or any other communicable disease/virus. Even Influenza or the common Rhino Virus. And I totally agree @Smile Please ! I expected a big reveal at the end where it shows that he was a “Deep Fake” all along.

Reply
john thomas

October 9, 2021 at 11:25 am

I realized 2041 is closer to now than 2000 oh my..

Reply
DwHoDcAsH

October 9, 2021 at 11:58 am

AI cats and dogs too? 🙄😬

Reply
Robert Croogs

October 9, 2021 at 1:19 pm

*Investing in crypto now should be in every wise individuals list, in some months time you’ll be ecstatic with the decision you made today.*

Reply
- Lucy Banks
  
  October 9, 2021 at 2:39 pm
  
  @Elizabeth madlin He’s availability is on What’sapp⏬
  
  Reply
- Lucy Banks
  
  October 9, 2021 at 3:03 pm
  
  ➕①⑨①⑨⑨①⑥②⑧③⑤
  
  Reply
- Robin Haney
  
  October 9, 2021 at 3:06 pm
  
  Wow! I know Mr Anthony Brian. I met him at a conference in California 2019 where he introduced us his business strategy, he helped me cover my student loans
  
  Reply
- Stephanie Willam
  
  October 9, 2021 at 3:16 pm
  
  I was skeptical at first until I did give it a try I’m so happy I didn’t relent. I’m debt free because of Bitcoin investment .
  
  Reply
- Bobby Sean
  
  October 9, 2021 at 3:22 pm
  
  I’m gonna give Anthony Brian a try, I hope he helps me out.
  
  Reply
Nashy119

October 9, 2021 at 3:15 pm

I don’t think we’ll get all this done in 20 years, although we will obviously make progress on many fronts. I think anything which relies on an AI breakthrough is off the cards, since we got the computers we’ve been doing the application side of it and there’s more to do, but the theory side hasn’t moved much. Just on probabilities, we’ll find a breakthrough somewhere different.

Reply
zoltar808

October 9, 2021 at 4:05 pm

Lol, what is this nonsense?!? I’m close to the unsubscribe button, TED has been junk lately. 🤦🏻‍♂️

Reply
- 123
  
  October 11, 2021 at 4:24 am
  
  Totally agreed!!
  
  Reply
Leon

October 9, 2021 at 6:03 pm

We as humanity must shape the future, not AI.

Reply
Flubs

October 10, 2021 at 1:00 am

Pff, this seems like such a short-sighted extrapolation based on very limited (very personal) life experience.. Come on TED, what’s this crap ?

Reply
- 123
  
  October 11, 2021 at 4:08 am
  
  Agreed. What a dumb and lazy “vision” of the future.
  
  Reply
- GUMBOOTER
  
  October 13, 2021 at 9:41 pm
  
  Yeah quality seems to have gone down over covid. TED is based on collaboration so perhaps it’s a sign of the times
  
  Reply
alice 4theroblox

October 10, 2021 at 5:26 am

Typical world economic forum Klaus schwab propaganda. You’ll own nothing and be happy, while father Klaus owns everything.

Reply
Golol cohan

October 10, 2021 at 12:42 pm

This guy is completely off.

Reply
Vivek Panghal

October 10, 2021 at 1:13 pm

Plot twist: He is just a robot who time travelled from 2041 to scare us 😂

Reply
justsocial unsociate

October 10, 2021 at 4:20 pm

I had a dream of A I doctor. The bot who wanted to resemble human

Reply
Mark

October 10, 2021 at 5:18 pm

It is funny that in sci-fi future covid is still a threat. Good job Nostradamus Vong

Reply
- 123
  
  October 11, 2021 at 4:09 am
  
  😄
  
  Reply
Sam Pem

October 10, 2021 at 10:01 pm

No, we are not reaching 2041, climate change will scorch us first.
Let’s use sci fic to imagen a world without poverty, violence and destabilising economic growth that destroys the planet. Augmented virtual reality can wait, I want safe and healthy reality.

Reply
Rob Grant

October 10, 2021 at 10:18 pm

Brainwashing and mind control at best.

Reply
123

October 11, 2021 at 4:07 am

What a dumb and lazy vision of the future.

Reply
123

October 11, 2021 at 4:22 am

TLDR: Very short-sighted, lazy and boring “vision” of the future by TED. Not a single word on major global problems besides illness.

Reply
- Minh Dao
  
  October 11, 2021 at 9:22 am
  
  great comment thank you, saved me time
  
  Reply
123

October 11, 2021 at 4:22 am

“Please smash that dislike button”

Reply
Matt Schwab

October 11, 2021 at 6:00 am

What a horrible video…

Reply
abhishek kumar

October 11, 2021 at 6:28 am

Plot twist:- It’s a Robot that failed the Turing Test.

Reply
anish raj

October 11, 2021 at 12:16 pm

This is not gonna happen I’m sure

Reply
MoniCast A New Way of Podcast

October 11, 2021 at 1:08 pm

ok,, I am going to sleep.

Reply
M A

October 12, 2021 at 4:15 am

More like 2141 not 20 years from now

Reply
15x4 Talks - English

October 12, 2021 at 8:55 am

quite a talented writer!

Reply
William Jones

October 12, 2021 at 11:18 pm

It’s very optimistic to think that the human race will not be extinct by 2041…

Reply
Toan Tran

October 13, 2021 at 1:26 am

a very good reader 🙂 🙂

Reply
Dustin Robert

October 13, 2021 at 1:36 am

Shut this off after 20 seconds

Reply
Jeagelets

October 14, 2021 at 5:17 am

To my future self:

Please reply to this comment after 21 years. I’ll be waiting for you.

Reply
Alf Bae

October 14, 2021 at 7:27 am

He is saying series of buzz words. I can hear no human soul behind those hot keywords. Scary. Because I can feel the same things from many Chinese elites. IMHO, the worst TED talk.

Reply
Nathan Harris

October 14, 2021 at 9:51 am

Why would TED post this?

Reply
Nathan Harris

October 14, 2021 at 9:51 am

He just making this all up

Reply
Jack Sparrow

October 15, 2021 at 9:18 am

1984

Reply
Sam Aulicino

October 15, 2021 at 6:07 pm

These people are sick. Can we just have our lives back?

Reply
Noukz

October 16, 2021 at 7:24 am

So… these are ideas worth sharing? Really TED?

Reply

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K-Pop, Cutting-Edge Tech and Other Ways Asia Is Shaping the World | Neeraj Aggarwal | TED

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