"The future is our shared endeavour": Konstantin Ernst speaks at the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future"

How is society changing in the 21st century, how are audiences and creators changing in the age of AI, and why is it important for people to stay courageous and take the initiative? The Director General of Channel One JSC, Konstantin Ernst, explored these and other questions at the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future". The talk was held on 13 November as part of the "Human and Values" track. The Symposium is being held on 12–13 November at the National Centre RUSSIA with the support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and the Ministry of Culture.

The talk with the Director General of Channel One JSC was titled " Contours of the Future: The True 21st Century, Not the Calendar One". At the start of his talk, Konstantin Ernst pointed out that it is often artists and writers who predict the future most accurately. Science fiction writers have a particularly keen intuition. It is no coincidence that telephone calls and aeroplane flights already feature in the works of Jules Verne.

Photo: Konstantin Semenets / Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

"We're seeing a surge of interest in the Strugatsky brothers' books. But I'd like to point out what makes them unique as science fiction writers. Their novels are about our relationship with the future, not the future itself. Take 'Roadside Picnic', for example. What's the book about? It's about the tragic difference between what we consciously want and what we want deep down. A man goes into the Zone to ask for his sick child to get well and comes away with a lot of money and a promotion. What's that got to do with the future? It's quite simple. The future is our true desires made real. That's precisely why we're so eager to know what the future holds. We want to find out who we really are," said Konstantin Ernst.

Photo: Konstantin Semenets / Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

Konstantin Ernst went on to discuss artificial intelligence, in which humanity places its greatest hopes for the 21st century. He stressed that AI, by definition, can know nothing about the future, since everything neural networks draw on for their analysis comes from the past.

"By the end of this year, one in five people on the planet will be using artificial intelligence. Imagine older people talking to a pleasant, soothing AI voice instead of their grandchildren and friends. Young people prefer it too. Living with another person can be painful and difficult, whereas this is all pleasure and comfort. This is the religion of the modern West: avoid trauma at all costs, both as individuals and as a society. But the refusal to take risks or speak to anyone but oneself is destroying the West's illusory greatness before our very eyes," emphasised Konstantin Ernst.  

Photo: Konstantin Semenets / Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

He said the most important thing as the future draws closer is to avoid the trap of comfort and hold on to our ability to tell the truth about ourselves.

"So what should we do? Be different. We mustn't give in to laziness or be afraid of pain. We must keep trying to understand ourselves, however hard and painful that may be. Above all, we must remember that the future is our shared endeavour, and no one will do it for us," concluded Konstantin Ernst.

The III International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is being held on 12–13 November at the National Centre RUSSIA and brings together more than 8,000 participants from 109 countries. The event is organised at the direction of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, under the auspices of the Decade of Science and Technology, with the support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.