Significant scientific breakthroughs driven by artificial intelligence are expected within the next two to three years, according to TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. Speaking at the DBS Asia Future Forward conference in Singapore, Chew estimated that AI will accelerate research in critical fields such as physics, biotechnology, chemistry, and materials science.
From Social Media to Laboratory Research
This prediction aligns with the strategic expansion of ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, beyond consumer-facing applications. The company's Seed research team recently introduced Protenix-v2, an AI model focused on predicting and designing biomolecular structures, which holds potential for drug discovery.
According to Chew, progress in scientific research is following an "extremely steep upward curve." He noted, "I think in the short term we probably overestimate AI, but in the long term we probably underestimate it."
Billion-Dollar Investments and International Initiatives
The shift toward AI-driven science is backed by substantial capital. A $1.8 billion initiative was recently announced involving the U.S. government, Meta, and Google, aimed at developing AI models to predict cell behavior and accelerate biological research.
Despite the optimism, Chew raised the issue of aligning increasingly powerful models with human values and ethical boundaries, questioning how we can ensure machines perform tasks that humans find intuitive.
Cybersecurity Challenges and Autonomous Agents
The TikTok chief also highlighted the risks posed by the increasing autonomy of AI systems. He warned that users might grant extensive permissions to AI agents—such as in autonomous shopping scenarios—without fully understanding the consequences.
Furthermore, he emphasized that sophisticated models are lowering the cost of fraudulent activities. This puts pressure on businesses to enhance their defenses against the rapidly decreasing cost of creating security problems for digital platforms.
