The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Zheng Likang, believes that AI, which is programmed by humans, will not replace humans; instead, it should be used to lend us a helping hand.
He posted on his Facebook page regarding the first-ever Tech Talk event titled 'The Progress of AI: Can We Keep Up?', expressing that attendees were very concerned about whether AI would replace humans.
“My answer is that AI is created by humans, and no matter how advanced it gets, it will not replace us.”
“It's just like a game of chess. Even if you have the best chess set, if you don’t know how to play, you'll be easily defeated by your opponent.”
He expressed that instead of worrying, university students should utilize the resources available at their institutions to broaden their horizons, accumulate knowledge and experience, and prepare for the future.
During the session, Zheng candidly mentioned that even though he hasn’t had the opportunity to take the stage at a TED Talk, Tech Talks is also a great platform.
He said that the inaugural performance of Tech Talks was dedicated to the students of the University of Malaya, fulfilling the aim of connecting with university students across major institutions.
During the session, he was particularly impressed by the active participation and questions from the students. Some proposed suggestions regarding the popularity of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), while others shared their ongoing medical research projects and hoped to receive support from the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Zheng described these feedbacks as treasures and also discovered the vitality and potential of the younger generation.