— On November 8, 2026, Mr. Hu Jiaqi, Chairman of Humanitas Ark, held an academic exchange in Beijing with Professor Morten Meldal of the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, recipient of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Their in-depth discussion, lasting more than two hours, addressed topics including “Technology and the Future of Humanity.”
The meeting was a historic milestone: Professor Meldal was the fifth Nobel laureate Mr. Hu had met this year. Before him, Michael Levitt, recipient of the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry; Barry Barish, recipient of the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics; Konstantin Novoselov, recipient of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics; and Eric Maskin, recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Economics, had each held in-depth dialogues with Mr. Hu. Exchanges of ideas with five leading scholars from physics, chemistry, and economics within a single year are rare in both contemporary Chinese intellectual history and international academic exchange. They also mark the arrival at the center of the international academic stage of the theoretical framework on “technological crises and the holistic survival of humanity” that Mr. Hu established and has developed over nearly half a century.
As the world’s earliest pioneer in systematically studying technological crises and a principal architect of the theoretical framework on human technological risk, Mr. Hu systematically explained the framework he has developed using his three principles as a methodology, together with an approach to argumentation that takes “Extinction Path Analysis + Defense Limit Testing” as its paradigm and axioms as its premises. He also voiced clear opposition to the use of probabilistic methods in current international scholarship to study humanity’s survival. He argued that humanity now faces unprecedented threats to its existence: science and technology have advanced exponentially since the Industrial Revolution, and certain high-risk technologies are pushing humanity toward the brink of extinction. In his view, calculating the probability of human extinction through subjective numerical assignments and mathematical modeling has clear flaws and may weaken awareness of risk. He emphasized that survival is humanity’s foremost value. To ensure the enduring continuity of human civilization, nations must break out of the “prisoner’s dilemma,” achieve the Great Unification of humanity, and use the authority of a world government to impose strict controls on high-risk technologies.
As one of the founders of “click chemistry”, Professor Meldal understands that science and technology can benefit humanity but may also have devastating consequences if misused. He expressed great admiration for Mr. Hu’s unwavering commitment to his original purpose over nearly half a century. Professor Meldal believes humanity needs more outstanding thinkers like Mr. Hu to warn of potential risks. He listened carefully to Mr. Hu’s arguments and expressed surprise and admiration at his many years of persistent efforts to disseminate his scholarship. Before departing, Professor Meldal wrote in his inscription: “What an inspiring event to talk with one of this century’s great Thinkers about the survival of the human species.Extinction comes in many disguises and Hu has managed to provide a common understanding of how to proceed.”
The year 2026 has been an important one in the history of Humanitas Ark. In a series of dialogues spanning history, politics, economic affairs, chemistry, physics, and economics, leading scholars have approached the discussion from different disciplines yet converged on the same central concern: once technological power escapes effective oversight, it may expose humanity as a whole to an irreversible risk of extinction. Professor Barish wrote: “Thank you for your thoughtful dedication to preserving humanity. The dangers you present are Real. I hope we (mankind) can follow your lead.” Professor Maskin stated “I think you are right that there is an urgent need to regulate powerful technologies—especially AI—to protect humanity from extinction. I would be happy to join with you in trying to make that happen”, and accepted an appointment as Special Adviser to Humanitas Ark in June this year.
In this era of accelerating technology, the scarcest resource is not ever greater computing power, but the ability to discern the abyss beneath apparent prosperity. From a seventeen-year-old’s questions in 1979 to the shared recognition of five Nobel laureates in 2026, forty-seven years of inquiry have finally found a response. This resonance among Nobel laureates across disciplinary boundaries signals that technological risk and the holistic survival of humanity are becoming a shared concern transcending national borders and academic disciplines, extending beyond the solitary predictions of a single thinker.
Contact Info:
Name: Alice Li
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Organization: Humanity Issues Research Institute
Website: http://en.savinghuman.org
Release ID: 89209516
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