Turing laureate on AI risks
Robert Tarjan, the 1986 Turing Award laureate and American computer scientist, has called for a more balanced approach to artificial intelligence development, stating that accelerating the pace does not necessarily lead to better outcomes, and that societies should take time to weigh the benefits of AI against its potential harms. When one of the founding fathers of computer science compares the AI race to the fable of the tortoise and the hare, the technology world pauses to hear a voice of wisdom. Robert Tarjan, whose algorithms still underpin modern networks, offers more than technical advice – he offers a philosophy. In an era where everyone strives to be first, he reminds us that speed does not always win.
Direction and depth matter more. And when two superpowers – the US and China – choose different paths in AI development, Tarjan urges us not to rush, but to weigh benefits and risks. His words sound like a warning: technology should serve people, not turn them into appendages of machines. And if we do not slow down to think, we may lose what it was all for – free time, meaning, and human dignity. Tarjan made these remarks in an interview with China Global Television Network in Beijing, where he is attending the 2026 International Congress of Basic Sciences (ICBS). The event, which began on Sunday and runs until 21 August, has brought together leading scientists from around the world to discuss the latest advances and pressing issues in basic science.
As competition between the United States and China in AI intensifies, the two countries are choosing distinctly different paths. The US is focused on achieving artificial general intelligence (AGI) through large scale models backed by significant computing power, aiming to take the lead in breakthrough innovations. China, meanwhile, is emphasising the "AI plus" concept, integrating AI technologies with industry and society to maximise benefits for a broader population. Commenting on these different approaches, Tarjan referred to the classic fable of the tortoise and the hare, saying: "In this race, the fastest does not always win."
When asked about potential risks and benefits, Tarjan said: "On the one hand, which approach causes the most harm? And on the other hand, which approach brings the most benefit to society? That is, we get benefits, and there will be negative consequences, and we will have to weigh these two factors somehow. Actually, we don't have to hurry. Perhaps we just need to slow down, think about these issues. We don't need to rush so much." The scientist also reflected on the broader social impact of technology, questioning whether advances intended to improve people's lives have actually led to longer working hours, and arguing that the wealth created by technology should be distributed more widely.
"In the 1950s, when I was a little kid, there was an idea that technology would give everyone a lot of free time. But somehow all these technologies have only made people work more and more. Yet we have the resources to give people more free time. Perhaps we need to restructure the system a bit, to distribute all this wealth created by technology in such a way that people don't have to work full time to support themselves. Perhaps we should return to the ideal where you don't spend your whole life in idleness, but you don't have to work so much either. Then people would have a little more time to do what they love," he said.
Robert Tarjan is one of the most influential computer scientists, known for his work on graph theory and data structures. The Turing Award, which he received in 1986, is the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in computer science. His appearance at ICBS in Beijing attracted particular attention, as he rarely gives interviews and even more rarely speaks about the social aspects of technology.
The comparison of US and Chinese approaches to AI development is not just an academic interest but a reflection of real geopolitical competition that will shape the economic and technological landscape of the future. Tarjan, however, offers a way beyond this rivalry, urging a human centred view of technology: what it gives people and what it takes away. His call for redistributing the wealth created by technology echoes debates about basic income and shorter working hours taking place in many developed countries.
As CCTV+ reports, Robert Tarjan's address at ICBS has served as a reminder that the race for technology should not overshadow human values, and that true progress is measured not by speed but by the quality of life that technology can bring to everyone.
