HomeEventsMax Welling: Will ai save us or break us?

Max Welling: Will ai save us or break us?

What is your convincing dream scenario for AI – a breakthrough that will fundamentally improve life at a world level?

The planet has heated up faster in my life than in some other 50-year period prior to now 2,000 years. We urgently need scalable solutions to combat climate change – and I don't think we will get there from AI without help.

Cracking the Carbon Capture Challenge with AI may very well be huge. It is a tough nut: high preliminary paying and massive energy requirements mean that they will not be yet viable on a scale. In some estimates, the prices were removed to 800 US dollars per tonne COâ‚‚. However, if Ai might help us discover higher materials, we will make meaningful progress.

That is just an example. Fortunately, from more efficient batteries to more intelligent semiconductors, there may be an actual potential for AI to drive through the climate.

What is a current project or a breakthrough that you just are particularly pleased with – and how much effects, what effects it should have in the true world?

In the past few weeks we’ve made many progress at CUSPAI, from the publication of a brand new open source data for CO2 recording with META to the top of the design of some latest material candidates which might be currently being synthesized and tested. This project shows that we will reduce the technique of years to months and have given ourselves confidence that we will speed up the issue of fabric design using simulation and AI.

What is an application for AI that you just imagine that more people should know – something positive that flies under the radar?

I’d say that I’d apply AI to material discovery, though I give that I used to be biased! ML accelerates time lines for discovery, design and test dramatic – it was a quiet revolution, but in the mean time we’re incredibly exciting.

I’m also fascinated to make use of AI for earth and weather modeling to assist us higher monitor our planet's health higher. I used to be within the team behind Aurora near Microsoft, which showed that a model that was trained for the prediction of the weather may very well be finely coordinated with a view to predict air pollution.

In general, AI4Science decreases as a scientific field and changes the paradigm of the success of science.


If you will have to decide on a nightmare scenario that keeps you awake at night – whether realistic or speculative – what would it not be and which warning signs should we have a look at today?

Powerful tools will at all times be the challenge of double use. Platforms for “social good” for the design of medication or materials can be used: to design poisonous materials, chemical weapons and even bio -monkeys.

The establishment of the proper guardrails in these tools and the guarantee of powerful technology doesn’t require the mistaken hands, and researchers and supervisory authorities are required.

In general, we’ve to watch out that AI isn’t used to govern or control people, which is a threat to our democracy. Part of that is to embed more transparency and explanation into our AI systems and to enhance public awareness of this challenge.

Who or what do you think that has the strength to forestall your nightmare scenario above?

All! We cannot afford to remain marginally and should be loud and open about our values. CUSPAI focuses on challenges in reference to “social good” corresponding to system systems and environments for clean energies and the prevention of climate change. However, we’ve the responsibility to participate in the general public debate and to tell our decision -makers about double use. Dangerous applications of powerful technology have to be regulated.

Ultimately, it is a collective responsibility: governments, big tech, startups – all of us should speak, work and use with our platforms to make the long run of AI a positive.

What are we not talking about within the AI ​​discussion today – something that you just imagine that it may very well be very essential in five years?

Of course, I feel that Ai's application isn’t enough for science from the AI ​​discussion share.

Admittedly, these tools cannot experience or interact with consumers. But they increase the best way we make progress in sensible challenges that can deeply touch our lives within the not too distant future.

We even have to acknowledge that the present rate with which we reduce the info center cannot go on eternally. It just costs an excessive amount of energy and consists of a rise in atmospheric pollution. We need more intelligent opportunities to construct energy -efficient AI, just like our own biological brain.

If you look ahead for 10 years, what do you think that shall be the most important change in our every day life?

Climate change can feel overwhelming and insurmountable, but after I work on this area, I even have the sensation that I even have the prospect to do something about it. It is a privilege to have the chance to design this technology and where it makes a difference.

I feel we may have designed miracle materials with wonderful latest properties with this technology in the approaching many years which might be now difficult to fathom. It isn’t unthinkable that the energy will be practically free as a consequence of latest materials or that there isn’t a longer a scarcity of food or water on the planet. Above all, the earth may not be threatened by climate change or pollution.

Perhaps we’ve developed medication, vaccines and antibiotics for just about all known diseases.

Do you think that agi is close? When will we’ve AGI?

There is numerous uncertainty in relation to AI – but we still have the chance to decide on which form of future we construct and direct the AI ​​for the challenges which might be most significant for humanity. I would love to encourage young people world wide to make use of their talent to construct a greater future for themselves and their children. It is solely incredibly worthwhile to work on sensible problems!

08 – 09 October 2025

Taets Art & Event Park, Amsterdam

09 – December 10, 2025

Doha exhibition and congress center

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