Peter Diamandis, the founder of the XPrize Foundation who has always been an advocate for a technologically promising future, has spent his career organizing innovation contests aimed at tackling major issues. However, during a recent discussion in Hong Kong, there was a slight change in his usual optimistic stance when discussing today’s intricate landscape of international scientific cooperation, which is complicated by geopolitical conflicts and the potential fragmentation of technology development across borders.
"One of the things that is important to realise is that human biology is conserved across 8 billion people, as is math and physics and chemistry," he said. "So a breakthrough by a brilliant entrepreneur or scientist in Beijing is fully usable and accessible by a brilliant scientist in Boston. That elevates humanity as a whole."
His inclusive perspective on advancing science contrasts sharply with today’s political landscape, where the United States, during President Donald Trump’s tenure, has aimed to restrict foreign student visas and significantly slashed funds for research and higher education institutions.
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There is significant worry," Diamandis stated, highlighting particularly the reductions at the National Institutes of Health. "If these changes aren’t reversed, they could lead to prolonged effects on the pace of scientific advancements.
Diamondis talked with the Post on May 28 during his visit to Hong Kong for the UBS Asian Investment Conference. He gained prominence primarily due to his XPrize initiatives, which played a pivotal role in jumpstarting the private spaceflight sector, leading to the emergence of firms like Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Clearly, he shines when addressing the optimistic facets of technological advancement.
He stated, 'Our minds are inclined towards fear and scarcity, and my mission through my endeavors is to assist individuals in viewing the world from a new perspective.'
In recent times, his attention has been centered on two fields which he admits he is "most enthusiastic about." artificial intelligence (AI) In his speaking events, he has been advocating for his most recent publication, Longevity Guidebook , focusing on longevity, and a sequel to his 2012 publication Affluence: The Tomorrow Will Be Brighter Than Expected , co-authored with Steven Kotler, set for release in January 2026.
In his work, the overarching theme of technological advancement remains consistent: life is becoming more improved, and this enhancement is occurring at an unprecedented pace.
Regarding lifespan extension, Diamandis indicated that there is more potential for cooperation and constructive rivalry compared to what has occurred in artificial intelligence, where Washington has intensified export restrictions to limit China’s ability to obtain cutting-edge technologies.
While the battle for leading AI technology has been characterised by "negative competition", Diamandis said he believed biotechnology would see more "positive competition" between the US and China in the future.
“I’m perfectly okay with competitions aimed at reducing prices or making products more affordable and accessible to people, as well as improving their accuracy—that’s all fantastic,” he stated. “Should there be a significant advancement in prolonging healthy lifespan within Greater China, I believe this would be highly beneficial for the entire globe.”
On the contrary, AI exhibited a "winner-takes-all attitude," which does not apply to healthspan, he noted, referring to the period during which individuals enjoy robust well-being.
Nevertheless, Diamandis continues to be enthusiastic about the potential of artificial intelligence. He imagines a future where he can generate digital replicas of himself capable of performing tasks autonomously, like participating in virtual events. During their talk, he swiftly demonstrated how he uses ChatGPT on his smartphone to showcase his productive interaction with this AI helper, which assists him in developing concepts by discussing them together.
He warned that AI “mirrors human nature,” potentially revealing a more ominous aspect. He questioned how AI could develop peaceful values when people themselves are constantly at odds with one another.
Later that same evening, during a fireside chat, Diamandis attributed his positive perspective to his formative years, having spent his childhood watching the original series. Star Trek The television series was inspired by a utopian depiction of a post-scarcity world and took cues from the Apollo space missions that initially sent humans to the lunar surface.
He stated, 'We require these optimistic scenarios that we embody, and currently, they aren’t prevalent enough.'
Although Diamandis expressed his belief that AI would generally have good intentions, he momentarily slipped into a cynical mood when pondering the more pressing issues at hand.
There will be an unpredictable period lasting between five to eight years ahead, primarily due to human behavior rather than advancements in AI," he stated. "My concern lies with human foolishness, not with the progress of artificial intelligence.
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The article initially appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), which is the premier source for news coverage of China and Asia.
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