Fareed Zakaria told Bard grads we're asking the wrong question about AI

Fareed Zakaria argues that the right question isn't what humans will do next to compete with AI, but what AI reveals about what humans uniquely do. Speaking at Bard College in New York, he noted AI’s rapid rise and urged graduates to rethink competition with machines. He emphasizes that human intelligence remains distinctive in emotion, context, and meaning.

He contrasted the brain’s roughly three pounds and 20 watts of power with AI’s data-center energy demands. A machine can write a sad poem, but cannot weep at a funeral, highlighting the enduring value of human experience. Zakaria urged graduates to view AI as a mirror of human strengths rather than a threat.