Summary of Key Points
This news article focuses on a forum at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, where two experts discussed the relationship between AI and humanity from different perspectives. Gong Ke (from a technical/governance perspective) emphasized that AI is a product of human innovation and should be utilized to serve the common welfare of humanity through technological iteration, industrial adaptation, and global governance. Tong Shijun (from a philosophical perspective) questioned how humans can maintain their dignity in the age of AI, pointing out that “thinking” is at the core of human agency and that we must not allow AI to replace our own choices and judgments. Both experts concluded that in the face of the AI revolution, it is essential for humans to make good use of technology while preserving the essence of being human.
Detailed Analysis
1. AI is Not Self-Evolving; It’s a Product of Human Innovation
Gong Ke explained that the 70-year history of AI does not reflect machines becoming smarter on their own, but rather the result of continuous human innovation. For example, the earliest Dartmouth Conference brought together interdisciplinary researchers from mathematics, psychology, economics, and other fields to develop the concept of AI. Subsequent advancements, such as the reduction in image recognition error rates by the Hinton team with AlexNet, and the sudden “intelligence boost” of GPT-3 when its parameters approached the scale of the human brain’s neural connections, were all due to human investment in algorithms, data, and computing power. He stressed that despite AI’s capabilities, talent is still crucial, and nurturing top-tier professionals is more important than simply chasing technological advancements.
2. Implementing AI Requires Solving Two Issues: Technical Adaptation and Regulatory Reform
Gong Ke argued that AI is evolving from being capable of merely answering questions and writing documents to performing practical tasks in manufacturing and daily life, but it can also make mistakes (for instance, industrial robots may malfunction). To successfully integrate AI, the following steps are necessary:
- Technical Adaptation: AI models that work well in laboratories must be refined to function effectively in real-world environments.
- Regulatory Reform: Companies need to adjust their processes and job roles to ensure smoother collaboration between humans and AI.
- **Addressing the “Bubble”: While there is no inherent bubble in AI technology, some companies focus solely on hype without practical implementation. The solution lies in guiding AI towards beneficial, safe, and equitable outcomes.
3. The United Nations Is the Ideal Coordinator for Global AI Governance
Gong Ke mentioned China’s proposal for a “Global Artificial Intelligence Governance Initiative,” which aims to have the UN play a central role in coordinating global efforts. The UN’s broad membership (193 countries) and its expertise, along with organizations like the International Telecommunication Union and the International Labor Organization, make it well-suited for this task. The goal of governance is not to restrict technology but to use it to solve human problems—such as climate change by utilizing AI for weather forecasting and energy optimization. Achieving a beneficial, safe, inclusive, and sustainable future requires international cooperation to advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
4. In the Age of AI, Human Dignity Lies in Not Abandoning Thinking
Tong Shijun questioned what remains of humanity if AI can think for us. He argued that human dignity does not lie in what we can do or possess, but in who we are—our ability to think as autonomous beings. He cited Pascal’s statement that humans are “thinking reeds” and Sartre’s emphasis on the importance of inner value, suggesting that we should not let AI make decisions for us. If we become complacent and rely entirely on AI, we will lose our dignity as human beings. AI can be a helpful tool, but it must not dominate our lives.
5. Different Approaches, Same Goal
Although Gong Ke and Tong Shijun’s perspectives differ, they both emphasize the same fundamental principle:
- Externally: We need to establish global governance frameworks and industrial reforms to ensure that AI serves human welfare.
- Internally: We must maintain our ability to think and preserve our agency as autonomous beings.
In essence, this news article addresses the question of how humans should navigate an era dominated by increasingly intelligent machines: technology should serve us, and we must protect our core values and dignity as individuals.
The answer is clear: technology should enhance human life, but we must not lose our ability to think and maintain our essential humanity.