Jeff Bezos makes bold statement about the future of human civilization: ‘I don’t see how anybody can be discouraged’
Jeff Bezos makes bold statement about the future of human civilization: ‘I don’t see how anybody can be discouraged’
The future is looking bright, at least according to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Fortune reported on Bezos’ speech at Italian Tech Week 2025, where he shared his vision of the future — one that includes living in space and a lack of commutes.
Included among Bezos’ predictions is the expectation that by 2045, robots will commute to work for us. More significant than that, though, is his prediction that within the next decade or two, millions will be enjoying life in space.
Bezos also shared his disbelief with those who predict the downfall of civilization due to AI and technological advances. AI, however, is already responsible for people losing jobs, and the data centers required to power the technology consume a massive amount of natural resources. Considering these factors, it’s easy to see how people can predict doom and gloom with AI’s continued use.
The potential benefits are obvious, too, by allowing a machine to synthesize huge volumes of data and draw conclusions or recommendations in minutes — in some cases even helping to solve pollution and power problems, even if we have yet to see any such solution compensate for the power usage associated with the many millions of more trivial AI uses per day.
The Amazon founder isn’t the only billionaire who is looking forward to a future in space, either. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, predicts that in a mere decade, college grads will be working off-planet on exciting (and extremely well-paid) projects, while Elon Musk remains convinced that humans will be living on Mars as soon as 2028.
Not all of the uber-rich are believers in space travel, though. Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, told James Corden that he believes humanity should prioritize fixing our current planet over planning ventures into space.
“Space? We have a lot to do here on Earth,” he said.
According to Fortune, Gates “has been on the fence about how far we should push technology.”
While Gates said in an interview with Jimmy Fallon that AI and machines could begin a new era where people only have to work a couple of days a week while machines do the rest, he also once explained that if he ever came across a time-traveler, he’d question them on the future of humanity under AI.
|
Would you ever want to travel to space? Sign me up No freaking way Maybe in a few decades I’m not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
To Gates’ point, it’s also unclear how any of the tech companies and moguls in charge of these AI innovations would plan to help these productivity increases benefit individual members of society who do not work for their companies, allowing them to work less without taking a pay cut, as Gates alluded to.
Pete Buttigieg is among the few politicians who have spoken out about the need for governmental involvement to help make sure AI leads to a more utopian society rather than a more dystopian one, saying there should be “AI dividends” that would spread the wealth of “the value that is being created by AI.”
[embedded content]
“I think it’s giving everybody a share in the overall value that’s being created by technologies, which again rest on technologies that the taxpayer paid for in the first place back in the ’60s,” Buttigieg, the former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, said. “So why shouldn’t we all get a share? Instead of it all going to this tiny handful of super, super wealthy people who are consolidating their own power, but like mega mega billionaires consolidating their power, right? We have to have tax policy that does that.”
More in Technology
Your Doors Are Killing Your Car’s Battery In A Very Weird Way
Gadget Review
Ukrainian soldiers armed with scissors say they cut any fiber-optic drone cable they see — even if it might be their own
Business Insider125
Tech companies deploy brilliant solution to help manage issue with invasive fish — here’s how it could save waterways
The Cool Down
Bezos, however, remains optimistic. As he said in Italy, “I don’t see how anybody can be discouraged who is alive right now.”
Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Billionaires aren’t saving media platforms as much as they are redefining them, as Jeff Bezos has in deep cuts to the Washington Post.
Yahoo Finance
This game can be pretty tough, so we’ve got clues if you’re stuck on today’s puzzle, #986.
Yahoo Tech
Follow Leigh Wood vs. Josh Warrington 2 live results and round-by-round updates for the Wood vs. Warrington 2 fight card on Saturday in Nottingham, England.
Follow UFC Houston live results and round-by-round updates for the Sean Strickland vs. Anthony Hernandez fight card Saturday in Houston, Texas.
Follow Ryan Garcia vs. Mario Barrios live results and round-by-round updates for the Barrios vs. Garcia fight card on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
While the veteran news and ramp up to free agency will cast a long shadow in Indianapolis, it won’t eliminate a litany of prospect-related storylines that will get rolling once workouts begin.
Benn had been with Hearn’s Matchroom stable since his pro debut in 2016, and the pair had overcome significant adversity in their journey to Benn becoming one of boxing’s biggest attractions.
You don’t have to be a runway model to pull off these timeless but on-trend styles — and you don’t need a trust fund to buy ’em.
Yahoo Shopping
Expert-tested and mom-approved, these picks accommodate your changing shape during and after pregnancy.
Yahoo Shopping
One of the biggest stars in boxing has inked promotional terms with Dana White’s Zuffa — striking a seismic blow to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable.
Powered by WPeMatico