— Recently, Michael Levitt, the 2013 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry and a tenured professor at Stanford University, made a special trip to Beijing for a closed-door meeting with Mr. Hu Jiaqi, founder and Chairman of Humanitas Ark, engaging in an in-depth exchange centered on “science, technology, and the future of humanity.” As a top-tier scientist with decades of expertise in chemistry and computational biology, Levitt broke down disciplinary and ideological barriers during this meeting. After dialoguing with a thinker who advocates for “restricting the continued development of science and technology,” he engaged in a profound reflection on the dual impacts of technological development, demonstrating the inclusiveness and prudence of a scientific giant.
Michael Levitt enjoys a lofty reputation in the global scientific community. His most landmark contribution is the development, together with his collaborators, of multiscale models for complex chemical systems, for which he was awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Before this breakthrough, chemists studying molecular structures and chemical reactions had to choose between classical physics and quantum mechanics, unable to balance computational efficiency with simulation accuracy. Levitt’s research innovatively merged the two physical theories, creating multiscale computational models that combine accuracy and practicality, turning computers into “virtual laboratories” for unraveling the mysteries of life and fundamentally transforming the research paradigms of chemistry and biology.
As a pioneer of computational biology, Levitt’s research covers multiple core areas including protein and nucleic acid structure analysis, molecular dynamics, and ab initio protein folding. Many of the simulation programs he wrote remain foundational tools in the field. The “Jack-Levitt method” he proposed became the basis for modern NMR structure determination methods. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his team accurately predicted structural changes in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein through molecular simulations, providing critical support for global vaccine development. As of 2023, Levitt has published over 180 academic papers, has long been engaged in research and teaching at Stanford University, trained a large number of interdisciplinary talents, and his academic thinking has profoundly influenced the direction of development at the intersection of chemistry, biology, and artificial intelligence worldwide.
Levitt’s special trip to Beijing was centered on having an honest dialogue with Mr. Hu Jiaqi regarding the risks of technological development and the future direction of humanity. In the field of human-centric research, Hu Jiaqi is the most dedicated advocate, the earliest pioneer in research on technological crises, and the most comprehensive theorist. He has worked tirelessly for the cause of humanity’s future for over forty years, authoring works such as Saving Humanity and The Greatest Problem, and has constructed a complete theoretical framework ranging from the analysis of human nature and crisis projection to the three principles and solutions. He has sent over one million letters (including both emails and paper letters), written twelve open letters to leaders of mankind, and established dedicated websites to promote his scholarly views. To expand the influence of his ideas, he concentrated all his personal funds to implement the “Richest Man Plan,” investing approximately one billion RMB to create several international websites such as “Yilulao.” In December 2018, he founded the Save Human Action Organization, which was renamed Humanitas Ark on January 15, 2025, deciding to rely on collective strength to advance the cause of saving humanity. As of the publication date, the number of members and supporters of Humanitas Ark has exceeded 13 million, covering 255 countries and regions worldwide.
During the meeting, Levitt and Hu Jiaqi engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including the imbalance between the pace of technological development and humanity’s ability to manage it, the potential risks of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and genetic engineering, and the impact of human nature’s weaknesses on technological applications. As a scientist long dedicated to advancing technological progress, Levitt has always firmly believed that technology is a core force driving the advancement of human civilization, and his research has consistently focused on how to solve problems in the life sciences and chemistry through technological innovation. However, during this exchange, perspectives such as the “Theory of Evolutionary Imbalance” and the “Argument for Technological Extinction Risk” proposed by Hu Jiaqi based on decades of research allowed him to reexamine the boundaries and risks of technological development from a completely new perspective.
“In the past, I focused more on the potential of technological progress and on how to bring well-being to humanity through technological innovation, but I rarely thought about the boundaries of technology from the perspective of ‘restricting development,'” Levitt said after the meeting. He stated that Hu Jiaqi’s systematic analysis of technological risks—especially his critique of the logical flaws in AI “alignment theory” and his concerns about how the weaknesses of human nature could lead to technological run away—greatly inspired him. He admitted that the current pace of development in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and nanotechnology far exceeds expectations. While enjoying the benefits of technology, humanity does indeed face unpredictable risks—just as Hu Jiaqi emphasizes: the capacity for technological development is growing exponentially, but humanity’s wisdom in managing technology lags relatively behind, and this imbalance could lead to irreversible consequences.
Levitt pointed out that as scientists, pursuing technological breakthroughs is part of their duty, but they should also adopt a prudent attitude and face up to the potential negative impacts of technological development. He believes that his meeting with Hu Jiaqi was not an “ideological confrontation” but rather a complementarity and collision of different perspectives. “Scientific progress requires not only the courage to innovate but also the wisdom to reflect. A true scientist must both be able to advance technology and be able to clearly see its boundaries, thinking about how to make technology better serve the holistic survival and well-being of humanity.”
The significance of this meeting lies not only in the intellectual collision between scholars from different fields but also in demonstrating the inclusiveness and openness of the scientific spirit. That Levitt, as a Nobel Laureate, proactively engaged in dialogue with a thinker who advocates for “restricting technological development” sends an important signal in itself: science has never been about one-way progress, but rather advances through continuous reflection and balance.
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