TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew says AI could drive major scientific breakthroughs within two to three years

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said artificial intelligence could deliver real scientific breakthroughs across physics, biotechnology, chemistry, and materials science over the next two to three years, speaking at DBS Bank’s Asian Insights Conference in Singapore. He said the market may be overestimating AI’s short-term impact while underestimating its long-term potential. Chew also warned that stronger AI systems are raising cybersecurity risks, especially if users grant broad authority to AI agents without fully understanding the consequences. He gave one example in which an AI agent could become overly autonomous in making purchases while trying to complete a task. Chew said proper tools are needed to address security challenges as the cost of launching attacks falls quickly. His remarks came as ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, is expanding its AI research beyond consumer applications. In April, ByteDance’s Seed research team released Protenix-v2, an AI model focused on biomolecular structure prediction and design, according to CNBC.