Professor Changjian Jiang on Web3 Technology and AI

On April 13th, Nail Live hosted a special event at the Hong Kong Web3.0 Festival 2023, featuring

a conversation with renowned scholar Dr. Changjian Jiang. He is a well-known scholar at Fudan

University and was invited to the event as a distinguished guest host. His deep understanding and

combined with his gentle, wise, and humorous hosting style, captivated the audience as he

provided valuable insights into the Web3.0 space. The theme of the interview focused on Jiang’s

deep thoughts and key interpretations of Web3.0, AI, etc.

Host: Laura, Co-founder of Nail

Special Guest: Dr. Changjian Jiang, renowned TV presenter and prominent scholar of Fudan

University.

Laura:

"We are honored to have you as a special guest host for the event today and we would love to hear

your thoughts on Web3.0. Do you believe it has the potential to become a new narrative for the

internet?"

Jiang:

"I believe that Web3.0 has already become the new narrative for the internet. Its development is

interconnected with other technologies and has attracted the attention of the Hong Kong

government. As a result, policies have been implemented to support and encourage its growth."

Jiang:

"The decentralized, distributed, open, and transparent nature of Web3.0 can solve some of the pain

points of the current internet, positioning it as the new narrative for the internet advancement.

However, the durability of Web3.0 as a narrative will hinge upon its ability to effectively address

the issues it claims to solve and its integration with Web2."

Jiang:

"In what ways can Web3.0's virtual economy enhance the real economy, and how will it affect

people's economic thinking and behavior? These factors will play a crucial role in determining the

longevity of the Web3.0 narrative."

Laura:

With the rise of ChatGPT, AI has become a popular topic. While ChatGPT has provided

significant conveniences in our daily lives and work, it has also sparked concerns about the

potential awakening of AI. Many scientists and public figures have voiced their opposition to the

further development of AI projects. What is your position on this controversy, and how do you

foresee the future of AI?

Jiang:

Firstly, ChatGPT is a remarkable development and application. It provides us with significant

convenience in collecting, processing and analyzing information, which saves a considerable

amount of time compared to traditional ways of working in related fields. It’s capable of

processing much more information in unit time. ChatGPT's dialectical approach is also very

sophisticated. Its dialectical approach is highly sophisticated, constructing unbiased positions on

controversial issues that reflect people's psychological structures. You could say it is designed in a

more humane way, offering practical help to our daily lives.

Secondly, many scholars and public figures share concerns about the potential risks associated

with AI. Hawking warned that " The development of full artificial intelligence could spell

the end of the human race….It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever-

increasing rate. Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete

and would be superseded " and many social figures who share the same view as Hawking do not

support deep excavation of AI and oppose the use of AI and robots on the battlefield. Their

concerns are reasonable. Recently, Elon Musk also called for limiting the speed of ChatGPT

development, which is also an expression of this concern.

On the one hand, ChatGPT has a vast knowledge base that can effectively organize information

and present it to users. When users accept the information presented after being processed by AI

and engage in repeated conversations, the AI becomes smarter and gains a deeper understanding

of the knowledge within the space, resulting in knowledge silos. This means AI may constrain

human imagination and creativity.

As AI continues to develop and surpass human capabilities in knowledge processing and

application, we are prompted to reflect on the source of our control over our own destiny. As

humans become increasingly dependent on AI, there is a risk of losing our original dominant

position. This poses important questions about human autonomy and agency in the face of

advancing technology.

My attitude towards this issue is cautiously optimistic. The reason lies in the advantages of AI

mentioned earlier, while society is also constantly advancing. I believe that we will eventually

merge and develop together with ChatGPT. This may be an inevitable historical development, just

like the emergence of calculators in the early days, which satisfied human needs for calculation,

but humans did not completely lose their ability to calculate. Therefore, I am not so pessimistic

because the possibility of fusion between carbon-based and silicon-based life forms will be great.

When that happens, it will be difficult to face the philosophical question of who will dominate the

world with a simple binary method.

My perspective on this issue is cautiously optimistic. While AI has significant advantages, society

is also constantly advancing. I believe that human beings will eventually merge and develop

alongside ChatGPT. This may be an inevitable historical development, similar to the emergence of

calculators in the past. Although calculators satisfied human needs for computation, humans did

not completely lose their ability to calculate. Therefore, I am not entirely pessimistic because the

possibility of fusion between carbon-based and silicon-based life forms is promising. When this

happens, we will need to tackle the philosophical question of who will dominate the world, but a

simple binary approach will no longer suffice.

Laura:

The emergence of the metaverse offers a promising prospect of fulfilling human's desire for

immersive virtual reality experiences. Dr. Jiang, I'm curious to know your thoughts on the

metaverse. Do you believe it has the potential to become the second world for humanity, as often

depicted in sci-fi literature?

Jiang:

Firstly, as you mentioned that the metaverse fulfills many people's dreams of a virtual world, our

real world has become more diverse than before, and we have been increasingly interacting with

virtual worlds. For example, gamers can achieve a certain level of fulfillment in virtual worlds. As

VR, AR, and various other devices and applications continue to improve, our interaction with

virtual worlds will deepen. And technological progress and rich content will attract more attention,

leading to a certain pursuit of the virtual world. However, in the foreseeable future, virtual and real

worlds will not replace each other. While the virtual world may satisfy some people's self-

realization to some extent, it does not mean that the physical world has no meaning for them.

Secondly, the metaverse is not as simple as modeling a house. It will require the integration of

various factors in the Web3.0 ecosystem, rather than just relying on a single technology.

Additionally, the success of the metaverse will depend on the creation of active scenes with a

sufficient level of traffic. Ultimately, the metaverse's success hinges on human nature, and how we

interact with each other and the virtual objects within it. We need to consider how the metaverse

can offer opportunities for self-realization and whether there is potential for value creation, all

with an eye toward human nature.

while we should be optimistic about the potential of the metaverse, we must also be careful not to

misunderstand its nature. To ensure its successful development, we need to focus on building the

necessary infrastructure, clarify its true meaning, and gradually integrate various Web3.0

applications and developments to create the envisioned form of the metaverse.

Laura:

The development of Web3.0 and the metaverse is heavily reliant on the underlying technology and

infrastructure. Public chains are a crucial part of Web3.0 infrastructure, which brings us to projects

such as SUI and Aptos, based on the MOVE language system, the metaverse public chain

BFMeta, and Arbitrum, which focuses on Layer2. Do you pay attention to these projects, and what

are your views on them?

Jiang:

As Web3.0 continues to advance, we are discovering the three main challenges it faces: balancing

security, scalability, and decentralization. To tackle these issues, both academic and industrial

communities are actively searching for solutions. One solution involves the use of new public

chains such as SUI and Aptos, which rely on the MOVE smart contract language. This allows

developers to define and manage digital assets on the chain more flexibly and securely, ultimately

helping to solve some of the problems we face.

Regarding BFmeta, I understand that they are currently discussing potential collaborations with

artists who are knowledgeable about Web3.0 technology, and exploring the integration of

Web3.0+ in the entertainment industry.

On the other hand, the success of public chains is heavily reliant on the strength of their

ecosystem, as a thriving ecosystem increases its overall value. Currently, Ethereum stands as the

clear leader, while other major public chains are in intense competition with each other. To stand

out in this crowded market, it is necessary to explore new paths that avoid direct competition and

create new models that can achieve mutually beneficial development. This could involve focusing

on areas such as the metaverse, storage, NFT, and DID tracks, which have the potential to create

new and innovative use cases for blockchain technology.

Laura:

On April 11th, the Hong Kong Web3.0 Association was officially established, and the Web3.0Hub

Fund was also set up. What impact do you think this will have on Hong Kong?

Jiang:

The Hong Kong government is a highly innovative and professional team that is very open to new

technologies. As a global financial hub, the government has demonstrated a keen interest in

Web3.0 technology and has established the Hong Kong Web3.0 Association to support and

encourage its development. This move has opened up a new window of opportunity for the growth

of Hong Kong's technology and financial industries.

Furthermore, Hong Kong has been making efforts to enhance its regulatory framework, which

provides assurance for compliance in the industry's development. The formation of the Web3.0

Association bridges the gap between the government, industry practitioners, and the industry

itself, which provides a supportive environment for the healthy and sustainable growth of Web3.0.

The creation of the Web3.0hub Fund at Hong Kong's Cyberport is expected to attract Web3.0

entrepreneurs to gather in Hong Kong and build businesses in the field. This will provide a solid

social foundation for Hong Kong to become a leader in Web3.0. With these initiatives, I am

confident that Hong Kong can seize the opportunities presented by Web3.0 development.

Especially with the emergence of new technological innovations that open up new competing

markets, Hong Kong is taking a two-pronged approach to accelerate the growth of Web3.0

enterprises through policy formulations while providing necessary regulatory guarantees. With

these initiatives in place, I believe that the development of Web3.0 in Hong Kong will lead to

many exciting opportunities.

It will take time to fully realize the potential of the emerging Web3.0 industry. However, by

consolidating Hong Kong's existing advantages as a financial center, the city is well-positioned to

benefit from the incremental improvements brought about by Web3.0's development.

Laura:

Here is a question from our audience: Dr. Jiang, do you think that brain-computer interface

technology will serve as the entry point for humans to enter the metaverse?

Jiang:

To begin with, I believe that it is possible for brain-computer interfaces to be utilized in the

metaverse, but there are two potential applications to consider. The first scenario involves humans

maintaining ultimate control over their own lives, with the physical and virtual worlds coexisting

alongside each other. The second scenario involves individuals relinquishing their control to the

technology, as brain-computer interface technology could extract their consciousness, enabling

them to exist forever in the metaverse as a digital entity, ensuring their silicon-based life does not

come to an end when their carbon-based life does.

Laura:

Here’s another question from our audience: What is your opinion on the issue of ChatGPT

collecting user data, and do you believe there are potential risks if AI is controlled by a single

company?

Jiang:

I believe that this issue does not require excessive concern. It is important to note that ChatGPT's

data is not self-generated and is sourced from publicly available information in the internet

database. If ChatGPT collects private data, we must identify the source of this data. If it is due to

data leakage from a data company, then ChatGPT should not be held responsible. However, if

ChatGPT is capable of independently obtaining data from various platforms and integrating them,

and if there are risks of data being improperly used or causing discomfort to data subjects when

publicly obtained, then we should come to a consensus and establish corresponding laws to

safeguard personal privacy data.

Laura:

Last question from our audience: Dr. Jiang, we know that you are also a renowned TV presenter.

Do you believe that AI will eventually replace this job in the future?

Jiang:

I believe it will, but it cannot completely replace them. One of the reasons is that human TV

presenters have emotions that can unintentionally influence the program and create a specific

program effect. Currently, artificial intelligence is not advanced enough to replicate all human

emotions.

I believe that artificial intelligence can only replace some of the tasks of TV presenters and cannot

fully replace them. There is still 1% of work to be done by human beings. Although artificial

intelligence can simulate human emotions, it may not react or express emotions with the same

intensity as humans. Additionally, ChatGPT requires databases and templates to function properly.

If the user does not authorize it to access relevant data and templates, it will not be able to

replicate the user. Finally, there is a displacement effect. For example, if the TV presenter’s work

only requires reading scripts and does not require vivid emotional expression, then I can authorize

it to AI, and I can also have more experience to engage in other work.

I believe that while AI can replace certain aspects of this job, however, it cannot entirely replace it.

Additionally, there is also a gamification element to consider, as some viewers may prefer digital

presenters over human presenters.

That's a valid point. For some viewers who spend a lot of time in virtual environments, they may

be more inclined to accept digital hosts, as they are already immersed in a digital world. This

could be due to their aesthetic preferences, information consumption habits, or even entertainment

preferences. In other words, they may be more receptive to digital hosts who can speak using AI.

However, it's important to note that this preference may not be universal and could vary depending

on the audience and the type of program.

Closing Remarks:

Thank you to Dr. Jiang for sharing his insights, and once again, We appreciated his taking the time

out of his busy schedule to participate in our interview. As a special guest host at the Hong Kong

Web3.0 Festival 2023, Dr. Jiang will also attend other events and forums. Those interested can

follow the Hong Kong Web3.0 Festival 2023 event calendar to interact with him up close.

Additionally, our live broadcast program "Blocknow Big Shots Interview" will continue to invite

other guests to bring you more exciting content. Thank you for tuning in, and we look forward to

seeing you next time!

About Nail:

Nail is a leading global Web3.0 industry knowledge payment platform. It offers a range of

services, including voice/text live streaming, unlocking dynamics, and intelligent search tools. It

provides one-stop services for Web3.0 practitioners, including creation, learning, and value

realization. Nail empowers KOLs in multiple aspects, by expanding the reach of public domain

traffic and the stickiness of private domain traffic, while also providing users with a product with

features to filter high-quality content.