Michael Wen's view on AI's impact and future.

The AI Paradigm Shift: From Manual Labor to Infinite Potential

I recorded my impromptu speech here -- no AI involved, no voice cloning of any kind. It's simply a plain audio recording made on my iPhone 12.

The Spark of an Idea: Wuling Farm

My reflection began with a hike in Wuling Farm (武陵農場), Taiwan. While exploring former worker housing, I encountered wall engravings that detailed life before and after machines arrived.

• Before Mechanization: Life was defined by grueling manual labor and high effort for every task.
• After Mechanization: The introduction of tools and automated machinery allowed workers to accomplish significantly more in less time.

The AI Parallel

This observation acted as a "flashlight" moment for me. I believe we are currently in a transition identical to the one from manual labor to industrialization, but this time, the "machinery" is Artificial Intelligence:

• Expanding the Impossible: Just as machines made previously impossible tasks a reality, AI is opening doors to fields that were once unimaginable.
• Job Transformation: While I acknowledge that AI will inevitably replace certain roles, I emphasize that it will simultaneously create entirely new fields of study and employment.
• Timeline: I predict that within the next one to three years, the full scope of what AI can bring to humanity will become much clearer.

Future Frontiers and Never-Seen-Before Fields

I envision AI pushing the boundaries of human achievement across several high-stakes areas and entirely new disciplines (Things we have NEVER heard or seen before!):

• Advanced Quantum Computing: I see AI as a foundational partner in managing the complexity of quantum states, potentially unlocking computing power that can simulate molecular structures in seconds.
• Scientific and Planetary Discovery: I believe we can use AI to explore new planets and discover new elements on the periodic table.
• Biological Mastery: I am focused on finding the "secrets of DNA" to develop new drugs and treatments, as well as discovering new species, bacteria, and organisms that have remained hidden from human sight.
• Longevity: I see a future with the possibility of humans living for 200 years, or perhaps indefinitely, through AI-driven medical advances.
• Environmental Restoration: I believe AI can be the key to improving the environment and fixing current world problems, such as optimizing carbon capture and restoring fragile ecosystems.
• New Ways of Living: We are on the verge of exploring new ways of living, where AI-integrated infrastructure allows for hyper-efficient, sustainable urban centers.

Do you see what I'm getting at? We're going to witness ENTIRELY NEW fields and industries emerge -- ones that will create jobs and demand new talent. So while AI will replace certain roles, it will also open up opportunities in sectors and domains we've never seen before!

A Grounded Perspective

While I reach for the stars, I maintain a practical outlook on the challenges ahead. As someone with an extensive background in system integration and cybersecurity, I know that these transitions require careful management:

• The Physical Reality: While AI is incredible at predicting new materials, discovering actual new elements or exploring deep space still requires massive physical hardware and energy.
• The Biological Code: Cracking the DNA code to live to 200 is a bold vision; while AI is accelerating drug discovery, we are still in the early stages of reaching that "fountain of youth".

The goal of AI is to free us from the limitations of labor, so we can finally explore the limitations of our curiosity.

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