I think that, hundreds of years from now, if people invent a

In a world where technology advances at an astonishing rate, Andrew Ng’s words, “I think that, hundreds of years from now, if people invent a technology that we haven't heard of yet, maybe a computer could turn evil. But the future is so uncertain. I don't know what's going to happen five years from now. The reason I say that I don't worry about AI turning evil is the same reason I don't worry about overpopulation on Mars,” evoke a profound truth: the future is unknowable. This wisdom calls us to temper our anxieties about what may or may not come, reminding us that the future, while filled with potential, is shaped not by our fears of the unknown but by the actions we take in the present. Ng’s perspective challenges us to reflect on the uncertainty of existence, urging us not to be consumed by what might happen, but to focus on what we can control today.

In the ancient world, philosophers often spoke of the future as a realm beyond human understanding. The Greeks, for example, embraced the mysteriousness of fate, acknowledging that while they could strive for knowledge and wisdom, the future was ever beyond their grasp. Heraclitus, the great philosopher, taught that life is change, and that to cling too tightly to certainty is to misunderstand the nature of the universe. He understood that the future, like the river he spoke of, was always flowing, always in motion, and impossible to predict with absolute certainty. Similarly, Andrew Ng’s view on AI and overpopulation on Mars reflects an ancient understanding: we cannot foresee the specifics of what is to come, but we can prepare ourselves through the actions we take today.

Consider the story of Alexander the Great, whose vision of empire-building stretched beyond the known world. Yet, despite his many triumphs and the breadth of his conquests, Alexander was not immune to uncertainty. Even as he extended his reach across Asia, he had no way of knowing how his empire would fare in the long term. Would it crumble after his death? Would it thrive? In the end, it was neither his bravery nor his vision alone that determined his legacy, but the choices made by those who followed. The future, as Alexander’s story teaches, is shaped by forces beyond even the mightiest warriors—forces of time, succession, and destiny—which we cannot control or predict.

Ng’s reflection on AI and overpopulation on Mars reminds us that in the grand sweep of history, many of the fears that we harbor today may prove to be as unfounded as the anxieties of the ancients. Consider the panic over Y2K, when the world feared that the transition to the year 2000 would bring about global chaos as computers failed to process the new date. This technological terror was based on a fear of the unknown, yet the year came and went with little incident. Our history is filled with similar fears about the future—fears about war, disease, and the end of civilization—that ultimately proved to be exaggerated. The future is always uncertain, but excessive worry often blinds us to the possibilities of progress and positive change.

The core of Andrew Ng’s insight lies in his ability to recognize the uncertainty of the future, yet still refuse to be ruled by it. He acknowledges the potential dangers of AI and other technologies, but he urges us not to get lost in speculative fears about what might happen hundreds of years from now. This is an attitude reminiscent of Marcus Aurelius, who, though he ruled the vast Roman Empire, was often reminded in his personal meditations to focus on the present. He understood that one cannot control the future, but one can control how they respond to the present moment. Aurelius’s wisdom teaches us that it is the choices we make now, rather than our worries about the unknown, that shape the future we will experience.

In our own lives, we must adopt a similar mindset. It is natural to worry about the future—about AI, about climate change, about the state of the world in decades to come—but we must recognize that our energies are better spent on present action. Instead of succumbing to fear, we can focus on what we can control today. We can invest in the relationships that matter, the work that matters, and the actions that align with our values. The future, after all, will unfold in its own way, and worrying about it will not prepare us for the challenges ahead. Instead, it is our commitment to action today that will help us navigate whatever comes next.

The lesson here is clear: we must focus on what we can do now, rather than being overwhelmed by the vast uncertainties of the future. Yes, AI and technological advancements may bring challenges, and yes, overpopulation may become a pressing issue, but today is the moment in which we must act. Like the philosophers of old, we can embrace the mystery of the future, while acknowledging that our real power lies in the choices we make in the present. As Marcus Aurelius would remind us, the only time that is truly ours is now. Let us therefore live fully today, not consumed by fear of the unknown, but guided by the actions we choose to take in this very moment.