At the MWC 2025 conference, artificial intelligence (AI) became the focus of many topics. In a striking debate, Google researcher and futurist Ray Kurzweil expressed his optimistic outlook on AI via video link, while technology critic Scott Galloway on the scene warned that AI is exacerbating social rifts, forming a sharp contrast.
Positive View on AI
Futurist and singularity theory advocate, Google researcher, and technology pioneer Ray Kurzweil, expounded his firm belief in AI in a video conference. He emphasized that AI will be deeply integrated with human life and become a transformative force to promote the progress of human life. The potential of AI in the medical field cannot be underestimated. It can significantly extend human life and improve the quality of life. “Although immortality cannot be achieved, the AI-driven medical revolution will significantly extend human life and enhance human capabilities in all aspects.”
Kurzweil pointed out that the current group that attaches importance to the development of AI has gained huge benefits, and this technology is causing profound changes in the energy field. He mentioned that AI can release the huge potential of solar energy and promote the development of sustainable energy through the optimization of intelligent systems. These views all reflect the expectation of the positive role of AI, outline a beautiful vision of the future, and show the possibility of technology for good.
Negative Views on AI
In sharp contrast to Kurzweil’s optimistic predictions, Scott Galloway, a writer and technology critic who was present at the scene, painted a “dark picture” of AI. In the fireside chat session, this critic who is both a scholar and an investor said bluntly: “Anger algorithms are destroying an entire generation of young people.”
Galloway’s views are thought-provoking. He deeply analyzed the operation of AI algorithms on social media platforms and believed that these systems gain user attention by spreading negative emotions. These algorithms have found that “anger is the ultimate brand tool” when they are neglected. He also painted a picture showing how advertising-funded, AI-driven platforms profit from the increasingly polarized American society, in which neighbors communicate less and less. He attributed this phenomenon to AI-driven information screening, which has exacerbated the isolation and antisocial emotions of young men, thereby promoting the exacerbation of the country’s loneliness problem. His remarks triggered a deep reflection on how AI can strengthen social divisions in the process of information screening.
Galloway also pointed the finger at the Silicon Valley elite: “The cowardice of the tech giants is deviating from the American spirit.” He named Altman of OpenAI, Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Tim Cook of Apple, accusing them of collectively losing their voices when tax cuts harmed the public interest, and criticizing them for only knowing how to build their own technology empires instead of speaking out to defend the system.
Positive Changes and Potential Risks Brought by AI
In this debate about the future of AI, Kurzweil and Galloway represent the positive changes and potential risks that AI may bring. Although technology continues to advance, it also prompts people not to ignore the social problems and ethical challenges that may arise. This debate is not only about the collision of technologies, but also a deep reflection on how human society can adapt to the forefront of technology.
With the in-depth application of AI in various fields, including the widespread use of tools such as AI painting and AI writing, we need to have a clear understanding of the potential and risks of these technologies. For example, AI painting tools can quickly generate high-quality works of art through generative adversarial networks (GANs) and deep learning technology, which provides a more convenient way for creators. However, it is also necessary to consider whether it will affect the nature and value of artistic creation, or even reduce the uniqueness of creativity to some extent.
Using AI-driven text generation tools, users can efficiently write copy and create content, greatly improving work efficiency. However, the popularity of these technologies has also triggered extensive discussions on originality, copyright and professional ethics. How to ensure that we do not give up the unique value and moral responsibility of individual creators while enjoying the convenience brought by technology is an important issue that we need to think deeply about in the future.
In the future of AI, it is the responsibility and mission of every technology practitioner and ordinary user to maintain rationality and human care and pay attention to the impact of technology on society. As Galloway said, angry algorithms may be eroding us, but only through collective dialogue and reflection can we truly begin to understand and master the potential of AI. Ultimately, technology is a tool for humans, and how it is used will determine the path that humans take.
