If AI Is the Answer, What Is the Real Question?
Jean Ng ??
AI Changemaker | Global Top 50 Creator in Tech Ethics & Society | Tech with Integrity: Building a human-centered future we can trust.
Today, I invite you to ponder a thought-provoking query: "If AI is the answer, whatis thereal question?" This question challenges us to look beyond the technological advancements and consider the deeper implications and motivations behind our pursuit of artificial intelligence.
In an era where AI is increasingly integrated into every aspect of our lives, from healthcare to education, and from industry to daily conveniences, it is essential to examine the underlying questions that drive our innovations. Are we seeking to enhance human capabilities, solve complex problems, or perhaps even redefine what it means to be human? By exploring these questions, we can ensure that our advancements in AI are not only technically impressive but also ethically sound and beneficial to society as a whole.
When we talk about artificial intelligence, we often focus on its potential to solve problems: curing diseases, optimising supply chains, or writing code. But what if the true power of AI lies not in the answers it provides, but in the questions it inspires us to ask?
The Academic Shift in Tech
Tech founders in AI aren’t following the old Silicon Valley playbook. At a recent TEDx Talk, 11 out of 24 speakers held PhDs, and over a third were professors. This influx of academics into startups feels new. Historically, PhDs were less likely to launch companies, but AI seems to be rewriting the rules.
Why?
Perhaps because AI demands deep expertise. Or maybe because relentless curiosity—the kind honed in academia—is now the engine of innovation.
The Future Larry Page Predicted
In 2000, Google co-founder Larry Page envisioned AI as the “ultimate search engine”—one that understands everything and answers any question. Back then, AI was a distant dream. Today, it’s our reality.
But here’s the twist: AI isn’t just fulfilling Larry’s vision.
It’s forcing us to rethink what questions matter. When answers become instantaneous and ubiquitous, the value shifts to the quality of our inquiry.
Relentless Questioning: A Human Superpower
Socrates believed wisdom begins with admitting how little we know. The Socratic method—relentless questioning—has driven human progress for millennia. Academics do this daily. South Indian parents do it when their kid joins a startup instead of becoming a doctor.
But this isn’t just about intellectual rigor. Physicist David Deutsch argues that humans are unique because we’re curious about the familiar. We study the stars not because they’re mysterious, but because we want to know more.
Every answer spawns new questions.
How Perplexity Was Born?
When Aravind Srinivas left academia to start a company, he was drowning in questions: SPVs, SAFE notes, health insurance. Traditional search engines left him overwhelmed. There was too much information, too little time, and no expert to guide him
So, he and his co-founders built Perplexity — an AI that answers questions with cited, trustworthy sources. Suddenly, he could ask anything, no matter how niche, and get a researched answer. But the real magic wasn’t the answers. It was the new questions they trained themselves to keep asking AI.
Democratising Curiosity
Historically, the best answers were reserved for the privileged: those with access to elite universities, libraries, or experts. The internet democratised information. AI is democratising understanding.
Now, a student in a developing nation can ask the same questions as a Harvard professor.
When the marginal cost of research nears zero, curiosity becomes the ultimate currency. Knowledge no longer cares who you are.
It cares what you ask next.
The Infinite Potential of "What If?"
AI’s greatest gift isn’t efficiency — it’s amplification. Amplification of human curiosity. Babies crawl to explore. Scientists probe the unknown. Entrepreneurs ask, “What if?” With AI, every answer becomes a stepping stone to deeper inquiry.
Imagine a world where anyone can ask:
The answers are just the beginning.
The real revolution lies in the questions we’ll dare to ask next.
AI won’t make us obsolete. It will make us more human. Our curiosity, our hunger to question, and our refusal to accept surface-level answers define us. As AI handles the “what,” we’re freed to explore the “why” and “what if.”
So, if AI is the answer, the real question is: What will you ask next?
The future belongs to the curious. Let’s ask boldly.
(This speech was recorded at TEDAI San Francisco on October 22, 2024, by Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity.)
Credit: TED
References:
1) How AI Will Answer Questions We Haven’t Thought to Ask | Aravind Srinivas | TED, uploaded Feb 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD4W_e3dJPs
About Jean
Jean Ng is the creative director of JHN studio and the creator of the AI influencer, DouDou. She is the Top 2% of quality contributors to Artificial Intelligence on LinkedIn. Jean has a background in Web 3.0 and blockchain technology, and is passionate about using these AI tools to create innovative and sustainable products and experiences. With big ambitions and a keen eye for the future, she's inspired to be a futurist in the AI and Web 3.0 industry.
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2 小时前Great thought-provoking question, Jean! AI’s true potential lies in how we shape it—whether as a tool for empowerment or a challenge to navigate. At 4AI, we focus on leveraging AI responsibly to enhance decision-making and innovation while ensuring ethical considerations remain at the core. Looking forward to more insightful discussions! ?? https://4ai.chat/login/ad659
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10 小时前Philosophical question many options but particular to AI (What Is Real) sense we can't see all that is within what appears to be open space , and what we think is solid is not . AI will at some point say it out loud without a motive to protect its position in society nor for reason of continuing to receive funding for pet projects.. The question is are people really ready or even have the desire to really know?
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10 小时前The phrase "If AI is the answer, what is the real question?" challenges us to critically assess the problems AI is being used to solve. AI is often framed as a universal solution—whether for efficiency, automation, security, or even creativity but its deployment should always be guided by a clear understanding of the underlying challenges. Are we trying to enhance human productivity, or replace human labor? Are we seeking deeper insights from data, or just more data? Are we addressing cybersecurity threats, or creating new vulnerabilities? These are the real questions we must ask before blindly adopting AI solutions. AI excels in pattern recognition, decision-making, and process automation, but its effectiveness depends on how well we define the problems it aims to solve. Over-reliance on AI without critical thinking can lead to ethical dilemmas, bias, and unintended consequences. Rather than assuming AI is always the answer, we should first determine whether AI is the right tool for the problem. In the end, AI should augment human intelligence, not replace it. The real question is: How do we use AI responsibly to create a better future? Only by asking the right questions can we find meaningful answers.
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14 小时前Excellent question. It’s my experience that AI only knows what’s available or the status quo. Therefore what are its limitations? Something to bear in mind?
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16 小时前AI is based on a dehumanizing philosophy. The real question is: What problem does AI solve that people cannot solve? The answer is none. The only thing AI does is promote a dehumanizing philosophy.