Should we be worried that AI will become smarter than us this year? (video)
What can we expect in the field of AI in 2026? Will computers ever become as intelligent or even more intelligent than humans? And should we be afraid of AI? These questions are central to this episode of ‘De Vooruitblik’, an initiative of the University of Flanders, the five Flemish universities, publishing house Pelckmans and VRT.
In this episode of ‘De Vooruitblik’, Prof. Dr. Andres Algaba, data scientist at the VUB, and Prof. Dr. Jo Pierson, communication scientist at UHasselt, shed light on recent developments in AI. According to Professor Algaba, it is still very unclear what impact these will have on the technology sector, let alone on the world in which we live. “Many scientists agree that it is theoretically possible to develop a computer that is as intelligent as a human,” he explains. “That could turn out quite positively, with much of the work we currently have to do ourselves being done by a computer. If the prosperity created in that way is distributed fairly, we might never have to work again and could all enjoy a life of leisure.”
Watch the video above for his answers to the other questions (in Dutch).
More outlooks ahead
In ‘De Vooruitblik’, a total of eleven VUB researchers, together with colleagues from other universities, offer insight into the themes that will shape the public debate in 2026. Among those featured are VUB researchers Elisabeth De Waele (head of Clinical Nutrition), communication scientist Ine van Zeeland and computer scientist Ann Nowé.
Want to take a look ahead? Pick up the book at Standaard bookshops, order it online or listen to the podcasts. Hungry for more scientific insight? Then dive into the rich archives of the University of Flanders for answers to hundreds of questions.
