Kai-Fu Lee on AI Era: Choose Fields Without Data

Kai-Fu Lee, CEO of 01.AI, recently shared his views on human potential in the AI era. He believes that while AI excels in data processing and logic, humans still hold an edge in empathy, aesthetics, and vision—abilities that cannot be predicted or replaced by data.

Lee suggests that people should choose careers in fields "without data," as humans cannot compete with AI where data exists. He contrasts factory assembly lines with plumbing, noting that closed, standardized jobs are easily automated, while open, non-standardized blue-collar work is harder to replace.

He predicts that over the next 5 to 10 years, open blue-collar jobs will be relatively safer. Lee emphasizes that humans should learn to manage and use AI well, and leverage creativity to do things without data foundations that AI cannot foresee.