'If AI can... what's left for us?' Hotmail's Sabeer Bhatia has a candid reality check for the future
Sabeer Bhatia, the mind behind Hotmail, has reignited debate with a sharp tweet questioning humanity's role in the age of AI. As machines outperform us in routine tasks, he argues the future belongs to thinkers, not doers. Drawing from personal and national experiences, Bhatia critiques education systems that reward compliance over creativity. His message? The real revolution must start in our minds.
Sabeer Bhatia, the mind behind Hotmail, has reignited debate with a sharp tweet questioning humanity's role in the age of AI. As machines outperform us in routine tasks, he argues the future belongs to thinkers, not doers.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Why Bhatia's Words Deserve Your Attention
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Originality Is the Last Frontier
A System That Trains Workers, Not Thinkers
Even the Best Minds Are Playing It Safe
A Future Not Written in Code, But Thought
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
In a single sharp tweet, Sabeer Bhatia , co-founder of Hotmail, has sparked a debate that extends far beyond Silicon Valley. Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Bhatia wrote:'If AI can write essays, code, and analyze data—what's left for us? Original thought . Judgment. Perspective. The future belongs to those who know how to think, not just what to know.'In a world brimming with admiration for AI's growing capabilities, this tweet lands like a jolt to the human conscience. It's not just a philosophical musing from a tech veteran—it's a brutally honest challenge. If artificial intelligence can now perform many of the tasks once considered distinctly human, where does that leave us?This isn't just a nostalgic technologist worried about the future. Bhatia is the same entrepreneur who, in 1996, gave the world Hotmail—one of the first free web-based email services, launched on the symbolic date of American Independence Day to signify liberation from ISP-bound email.For someone who helped democratize communication in the early days of the internet, his concerns about the future aren't just technological—they're deeply human. Bhatia's warning isn't about losing jobs to AI. It's about losing purpose.At the heart of his statement is a clear distinction: machines can process, but they can't truly imagine. AI may outperform humans in execution, but it still lacks creativity, intuition, and moral judgment—the pillars of original thought. Bhatia reminds us that these are the last strongholds of human intelligence, and they're not being nurtured the way they should be.He's urging us to rethink what we value. In an age where success is often measured in test scores, technical skills, or algorithmic precision, are we forgetting to train the mind to question, interpret, and create?In a podcast appearance that followed his tweet, Bhatia doubled down on his critique—this time pointing the finger squarely at India's education system. He called it a "conformist machine" that builds an 'army of useless kids,' not independent thinkers.From a young age, students are conditioned to follow instructions, chase marks, and memorise rather than challenge. Contrast this with the approach his own children experience in the U.S., where the emphasis is on storytelling, imagination, and expressing thought—even if it comes with spelling errors.'In India, we teach kids to avoid mistakes. In the West, they're taught to explore,' Bhatia pointed out.What troubled Bhatia most was that even India's brightest minds—those who clear the ultra-competitive IIT-JEE exams—aren't innovating. 'Even IIT toppers are chasing jobs at JP Morgan,' he remarked in disbelief. The irony is bitter: a nation full of potential ends up producing excellent employees for foreign corporations rather than risk-taking entrepreneurs or groundbreaking creators.According to Bhatia, real education should foster problem-solving, not just fact reproduction. 'You're never asked to write a paper. You're asked to memorise 13 chapters and regurgitate them. That is not education,' he said.Bhatia's tweet encapsulates more than just frustration—it's a rallying cry. As AI continues to evolve, the gap between doing and thinking becomes crucial. The machines will inevitably master more tasks. But the question is whether we, as humans, are preparing ourselves for the next evolution—not of technology, but of intellect.In a landscape where machines can already beat us at calculations, pattern recognition, and even creative mimicry, our edge lies not in what we can do, but how we think. Critical reasoning, ethical judgment, vision—these are not just soft skills. They're survival skills in the age of artificial intelligence.And if we don't invest in them now, Bhatia warns, the future may not leave us much to do at all.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
23 minutes ago
- India Today
Vivo X200 FE and X Fold 5 are coming soon, likely to launch within a month
Vivo is expected to launch two new smartphones — the Vivo X200 FE and the Vivo X Fold 5 — in India this July, with the exact date rumoured to be July 10, as per tipster Sanju Choudhary, via an X (formerly Twitter) post. Of course, the company hasn't officially confirmed these details. However, leaks and recent certifications suggest that an announcement is just around the corner. The X200 FE has already appeared on India's BIS website, plus, both phones are said to bring top-tier features, new designs, and possibly more aggressive pricing in the case of the X Fold 5 foldable with the Vivo X200 FE, this could be a rebranded version of the S30 Pro Mini that launched in China last week. It's expected to feature a 6.31-inch flat OLED display with 1.5K resolution and a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, Vivo might use the MediaTek Dimensity 9300+ or even the newer Dimensity 9400e chip. Either way, it should offer solid performance for casual and power users the camera front, the X200 FE is rumoured to include a 50-megapixel Sony IMX921 primary camera, a 50-megapixel Sony IMX882 telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 50-megapixel selfie camera. It's also said to pack a large 6,500mAh battery with 90W fast charging support. The phone could also feature an IP69 rating for dust and water Meanwhile, the Vivo X Fold 5 aims to compete with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series in India. It's expected to come with an 8.03-inch AMOLED inner display and a 6.53-inch AMOLED LTPO outer screen — both with 120Hz refresh rates. The phone is rumoured to be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, paired with 16GB RAM and 512GB here - Vivo X Fold 3 Pro review: Exceptional camera, foldable screenIn terms of camera, the X Fold 5 is expected to pack dual 32-megapixel selfie cameras — one on the cover display and another on the inside. The rear camera module is rumoured to include a 50-megapixel Sony IMX921 primary sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens with autofocus, and a 50-megapixel IMX882 periscope telephoto lens offering 3x optical life should be strong, with a 6,000mAh battery, 90W wired charging, and 30W wireless support. Interestingly, despite the large battery, the phone could be one of the slimmest foldables yet — reportedly 4.3mm when might make the X Fold 5 more appealing this time is the expected price drop. You see, the use of the same chipset as last year raises the possibility of a more aggressive price tag. For context, the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro was launched in India at Rs 1,59,999 for the sole 16GB RAM + 512GB storage variant. That said, whether Vivo go with aggressive pricing remains to be seen.
Economic Times
2 hours ago
- Economic Times
Crash time is now: Kiyosaki urges dumping ‘fake money' for silver, predicts 3x surge
Robert Kiyosaki, author of the best-selling personal finance book Rich Dad Poor Dad, on Monday warned that the 'biggest crash in history' could begin this summer, urging investors to move out of stocks and bonds and into alternative assets like gold, silver, and Bitcoin. ADVERTISEMENT In a post on microblogging site X (formerly Twitter), Kiyosaki wrote, 'Do not say I didn't warn anyone.' Referencing his 2013 book Rich Dad's Prophecy, he said, 'As predicted in my book Rich Dad's Prophecy (2013) the biggest crash in history is coming. I am afraid that crash time is now and through this summer.' Kiyosaki cautioned that 'millions, especially my generation of boomers will be wiped out when the stock and bond markets crash,' while adding that 'millions who are proactive may become extremely rich… and as you know….I want you to be one of those who become very rich.' Kiyosaki said the downturn would not be limited to equities and bonds. 'Over this summer, as stock, bond, and real estate markets crash… billions will rush into gold, silver, and Bitcoin,' he these assets, he emphasized silver as the most undervalued: 'The biggest bargain today is silver. In 2025 silver may 3X.' He added that silver remains significantly below its historical peak: 'The better news is silver is still 60% under all time highs…. still about $35….while gold and Bitcoin are at or near all time highs.' ADVERTISEMENT Reiterating his preference for physical assets over paper investments, he said, 'Tomorrow I am going to my local gold and silver dealer and trading fake money for real silver…. no ETFs…. the biggest bargain today.' Kiyosaki urged his followers to take immediate action. 'Silver is priced around $35 an ounce which means almost everyone anywhere in the world….has a chance to grow richer…while millions grow poorer.' He concluded the post with a direct question: 'What are you going to do tomorrow….grow richer or grow poorer? Please choose to get richer. Take care.' Monday's post builds on a series of escalating warnings issued by Kiyosaki in recent weeks. On May 19, he predicted that central banks themselves could be at the center of the next financial meltdown, urging individuals to 'bail yourself out' with gold, silver, and Bitcoin. He questioned who would save monetary authorities like the U.S. Federal Reserve and cited economist Jim Rickards' concern over the $1.6 trillion U.S. student loan burden as a potential trigger. ADVERTISEMENT Earlier, on May 20, Kiyosaki reacted to Moody's downgrade of the U.S. credit rating by likening the country to 'a dead-beat dad who is spending borrowed money, without a job, and not taking care of his family.' He said the downgrade could usher in conditions similar to the 1929 Depression and again advised investing in alternative assets and adopting an entrepreneurial traces the root of systemic fragility to the U.S. abandoning the gold standard in 1971. 'Each crisis gets bigger because they never solve the problem… a problem which started in 1971 when Nixon took the US Dollar off the gold standard,' he wrote. Kiyosaki has consistently promoted silver as the most accessible path to wealth for everyday investors. In April, he said silver was 'the hottest investment today' and predicted it would double to $70 an ounce in 2025. He emphasized its affordability: 'Almost everyone in the world can afford at least one ounce of silver.' ADVERTISEMENT While Kiyosaki has advocated for gold and Bitcoin as well, he has increasingly emphasized silver's potential to outperform in the short term, citing both financial instability and its industrial demand. Kiyosaki's overall message remains anchored in distrust of fiat currency, which he routinely calls 'fake money.' As he wrote in May, 'As I have been warning for years the best way to protect your self is not by saving fake fiat money. As I stated over 25-years ago, in Rich Dad Poor Dad, 'The rich don't work for money' and 'Savers are losers.'' In calling for a shift away from traditional financial strategies, he has urged individuals to become self-reliant through asset accumulation and entrepreneurship: 'You bail you and your family out by saving real gold, silver, and Bitcoin… No ETFs.' ADVERTISEMENT Also read | Rich Dad, Poor Dad author Kiyosaki warns U.S. debt downgrade signals 1929 Depression, urges buying gold, silver, Bitcoin with entrepreneurial mindset (Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk announces XChat: Encrypted messaging, audio & video calls and other things to know
Elon Musk has announced the launch of Chat, a new and direct messaging (DM) feature on X (formerly Twitter). Tesla CEO claims that the new XChat feature of the platform will offer Bitcoin-style encryption , disappearing messages and cross-platform audio and video calls. The move aims to address user demands for more secure and versatile private messaging capabilities within the platform. 'All new XChat is rolling out with encryption, vanishing messages and the ability to send any kind of file. Also, audio/video is built on Rust with (Bitcoin style) encryption, whole new architecture,' wrote Musk on X. How is XChat different from its rivals Elon Musk revealed that XChat is built on Rust, a programming language known for its speed and security, and employs encryption methods similar to Bitcoin's protocol to enhance privacy and data protection. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Key features of XChat Key features of XChat include: End-to-End Encryption – Ensuring secure conversations. Vanishing Messages – Users can set timers for messages to disappear. File Sharing – Ability to send any type of file. Audio & Video Calls – Works across platforms without requiring a phone number. This addition positions X to directly compete with established messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal, which already offer encrypted voice and video functionalities. The launch of XChat follows X's recent pause on encrypted DMs, signaling a complete overhaul of its messaging system. The feature is currently available to beta testers, with a wider rollout expected soon. Musk has long expressed ambitions to transform X into a multi-functional platform, integrating payments, messaging, and more—similar to China's WeChat. The introduction of XChat with these advanced features aligns with that broader goal.
