BEYOND Expo 2025: Ex-OpenAI executive Zack Kass discusses rediscovering humanity in the era of AI.

      In the upcoming decade, the most significant influence of Artificial Intelligence on society may stem not from its technical advancements, but rather from its ability to drive us to reconsider what it truly means to be human, a prominent industry expert stated during a session at the BEYOND Expo 2025 on Thursday. “We are entering a new phase of self-discovery, propelled by AI,” remarked Zack Kass, Global AI Advisor and Former Head of Go-To-Market at OpenAI, during the expo’s Founder Talk forum.

      Here are some key points from Kass’s session: The Human Advantage in the Era of AI. In recent years, AI has progressed at an extraordinary rate. Kass pointed out that the pivotal moment isn’t the improvement in performance, but rather how we decide to utilize it. OpenAI’s chatbot tool ChatGPT exemplifies this shift. While large models existed previously, it was ChatGPT that first engaged the general population in natural, human-like dialogue. This signified a transition from the “augmentation phase,” where AI merely enhanced human productivity, to the “agent phase,” where AI began performing tasks on behalf of individuals. According to Kass, the next stage will see the emergence of autonomous AI agents working across web pages, applications, and databases, evolving into genuine digital assistants.

      AI is quickly evolving toward general intelligence, moving from simple statistical models to versatile systems capable of mathematical reasoning, long-form text generation, and multimodal tasks, often at little cost. Kass noted that when GPT-4 debuted, it was priced at US$60 per million tokens, while today it costs only US$1.40. Tokens refer to segments of words that AI models utilize for language processing and comprehension. This dramatic price reduction suggests that AI is becoming as essential as utilities like water, electricity, or the internet—accessible whenever needed.

      This transformation is already altering the internet landscape. Currently, websites are tailored for human usage. In the near future, however, content will increasingly be formatted for AI to read and analyze—incorporating raw text, metadata, and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) that facilitate data exchange among software applications. While much of the information flow will occur between machines, human interaction with AI will take place through natural language, visuals, and potentially brain-computer interfaces.

      Kass introduced an impactful concept for this new reality: “Unmetered Intelligence”—a scenario where intelligence is endlessly accessible, free from constraints or billing per usage. Much like we no longer monitor each megabyte consumed online, we won’t concern ourselves with the number of tokens or computational cycles AI employs. Intelligence will be omnipresent—constantly available, seamlessly integrated into daily life.

      This development necessitates a fundamental reevaluation of what defines humanity, he asserted. When intelligence and expertise can be effortlessly duplicated, scaled, and shared, what distinguishes us as human beings? Kass provided a personal perspective: He is about to become a father. “AI won’t make me a better dad. My child requires love, attention, and presence—not a more intelligent parent,” Kass explained, adding that while AI might mimic emotions or offer guidance, it cannot replicate human warmth, empathy, or moral reasoning.

      Consequently, education must adapt, Kass suggested. The emphasis will shift from simply imparting knowledge or career skills to prioritizing values, critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence. Furthermore, leadership will evolve from possessing the most answers to unlocking the potential within others. “Nobody wants AI to replace their humor or courage; those are inherent human traits,” Kass emphasized.

      In his address, Kass also urged young people to avoid viewing university as merely a pathway to wealth. Instead, he encouraged them to pursue their passions and curiosities, focusing on how to think and learn. This approach will remain valuable long after any trending major becomes irrelevant.

      As he concluded, Kass encouraged his audience to share more inspiring narratives. He stressed that the conversation around AI need not be dominated by fear or dystopian visions. The world may be on the brink of breakthroughs like curing cancer, advancing education, and tackling global inequality. However, to achieve this future, he stated, we must have faith in it, work toward it, and communicate these possibilities with others.

      AI will transform numerous aspects of life, yet some human qualities will always endure, Kass concluded.