TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew: AI's Long-Term Impact Underestimated, Calls for Human Oversight

At the inaugural Asia Future Forum in Singapore on October 12, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew discussed the future of artificial intelligence with Xu Zhikun, head of retail banking and wealth management at DBS Bank. Chew said the market may overestimate AI's short-term capabilities but underestimate its long-term impact.

He predicted that within the next two to three years, AI could drive major breakthroughs in fields such as physics and biotechnology. While AI advances rapidly, human judgment, creativity and authenticity remain essential, he noted, urging businesses and individuals to actively use AI tools and embrace human-machine collaboration.

Chew cited the "paperclip maximizer" thought experiment to illustrate the risks of an AI system pursuing a single goal without proper constraints, emphasizing the need for oversight mechanisms. He advocated a "human-in-the-loop" approach, especially for high-stakes tasks, rather than relying entirely on automation.

He encouraged professionals—engineers, lawyers and others—to experiment with advanced AI models firsthand to understand their strengths and limitations. AI, he said, is not just a new tool but could redefine how people work and live, making curiosity and human judgment key to staying competitive.