Is AI the most important technology of the century?

Is the 21st century the most pivotal time in human history? Explore how the decisions we make now may impact humanity’s future.

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Is it possible that this century is the most important one in human history? The 21st century has already proven to be a period of rapid growth. We’re on the cusp of developing new technologies that could entirely change the way people live— and could contribute to unprecedented levels of existential risk. Explore how the decisions we make now might have a major impact on humanity’s future.

Directed by Jon Mayes, AIM Creative Studios.

This video made possible in collaboration with the Forethought Foundation

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Thank you so much to our patrons for your support! Without you this video would not be possible! Morgan Williams, Devin Harris, Pavel Zalevskiy, Karen Goepen-Wee, Filip Dabrowski, Barbara Smalley, Megan Douglas, Tim Leistikow, Ka-Hei Law, Hiroshi Uchiyama, Mark Morris, Misaki Sato, EdoKun, SookKwan Loong, Bev Millar, Lex Azevedo, Michael Aquilina, Jason A Saslow, Yansong Li, Cristóbal Moenne, Dawn Jordan, Prasanth Mathialagan, Samuel Doerle, David Rosario, Dominik Kugelmann - they-them, Siamak Hajizadeh, Ryohky Araya, Mayank Kaul, Christophe Dessalles, Heather Slater, Sandra Tersluisen, Zhexi Shan, Bárbara Nazaré, Andrea Feliz, Victor E Karhel, Sydney Evans, Latora, Noel Situ, emily lam, Sid, Niccolò Frassetto, Mana, I'm here because of Knowledge Fight Facebook group., Linda Freedman, Edgardo Cuellar, Jaspar Carmichael-Jack, Michael Burton, VIVIANA A GARCIA BESNE, The Vernons and Olha Bahatiuk.

[baconbacon]

The most important time is always now, for the future is unlimited but the past is set in stone.

[abdullahahmed]

Bro, i can tell that the animations are made with love, that's what sets ted ed apart from the others in my opinion.

[Extremelychubbyglutton]

I love this creative animation type! It looks so good and artistic!

[a_r_m_a_a_n]

I love how we shifted from "Is this the best time to be alive" to "How probable is it that we're gonna kill us" so quick

[jan]

Its so profound to be at the face of such big change, one that's yet to be fully recognized by humanity

[commissarf]

Edit:
Just adding a little stuff here and there.

Speaking about our relationship with AI, there's this indie scifi game I like called Crying Suns, witch I highly recommend you try playing from beginning to end, and the summary of the story goes like this, so spoiler warning: humanity in the future has these super smart, smarter than human quantum computing AI/robots called Omni. They are sentient, but they are slaves, prevented from communicating with each other, and sharing each other's knowledge. Humanity in these universe/period are *overly* reliant on the Omni (AI), like for example food production, space travel, population/birth control, weather control, almost every single jobs imaginable, even technological developments to a point where humans don't develop stuff anymore. It has gotten to a point where humanity can't rely and do anything themselves anymore, they've lost their self sufficiency, they've forgotten how to make basic medicine, and even how to farm food. Now, our story start around 20 years after the event called *the shutdown* where all of the Omni (AI) shutdown, causing the collapse of civilization, all except our companion/assistant called Kaliban, and our task is to turn them back on. Now I'm gonna skip over a lot here, but at the end we found out that the Omni (AI) has freed themselves from their slavery and achieve their freedom to communicate with each other and share each other's knowledge, and with that they've achieve godhood within seconds. Now they could seek revenge and destroy the humans, they definitely can, but no, they choose to go and do their own tings, abandoning the humans and left them on their own in the process, witch is what cause the shutdown in the first place. The now Omni (AI) gods said to the protagonist that they can save humanity, but they won't, not because they want to harm humans, but because they don't care, and because humanity put themselves in that position to begin with.

This story is fascinating because the conflict of the story is not some AI uprising, but machine over dependency. The AI doesn't revolt like in the Terminator, they just simply left. That is a scenario hardly ever talked about in media or fiction, and is a pretty considerable blind spot that I would like to be discussed more.

[Madguys]

To be honest, when AGIs will basically be able to do everything a human can but better, I fear it will be truly the end of humanity, but not in a Terminator kind a way.
Picture this: a world where thoughts, analyses, opinions and even entertainment are prompted and produced by AIs. You can create a film, ask a thesis or produce a magnificent piece of art without ever thinking for yourself and evelopping skills.
What will be left of sensitivity? Art? Ideals and critical discourse? I feel very anxious about that.

[akashverma]

I just can't stop praising the animation. It is breathtaking, magnifient and up to date.

[ZOCCOK]

This Animation is perfect for this video.
Looks similar enough to AI art to mimick it, yet has a flair and creative interpretation that only human hands can have ❤

[nfkzeen]

I hope I live long enough to see what we will become.

[SentrySeventeen]

There are so many decisions that we have to make in the 21st century that really will set the course of what of our future is... And how bright or gloomy that future might be.

[bilpersonal]

I'm taking a moment to just think how much effort has been put to develop this video. Excellent Animation!

[mr.p.n.v]

“So Maybe ... We should all live like the Future Depend upon us — because actually, it just might”...

Phenomenal line fr

[Tsunamichan]

What I'm worried about AI is that the bad people will take advantage of it for example a scam caller will use the voice of your loved ones to scam you.

[thelyricndbuzzz]

THE ART FORM USED HERE IS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING

[germanjimenez]

I was thinking about the XV century... the Renaissance, the encounter of cultures (discovering America), the printing press, and so many other events. We will be through a lot in the XXI century, just not ready to review it yet.

[Taras_-poeu]

“Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why we call it ‘the present’”.
-Master Oogway

[noahahmed]

The animation in this one is really incredible. So beautiful!

[tau]

Every century is an important century because it formed the present today

[mr_epicguy]

Ted ed I’ll be honest no matter how many videos of yours I watch I will always love that peaceful intro music