Hu Jiaqi's half-century quest to save humanity
In 1979, at the Northeast Institute of Technology, 17-year-old Hu Jiaqi conceived that science and technology could extinguish humanity, a counter-narrative to the era’s faith in limitless progress. He argued that unchecked technological growth could threaten human survival, a realization that propelled his lifelong focus on researching human issues amid a tech-driven society. Hu later recounted that he began this work soon after, vowing to devote his life to studying and advocating for humanity’s preservation. After university, he briefly held a coveted government post before leaving in 1994 to pursue entrepreneurship, believing his wealth should fund the cause of saving humanity. Since then, his life has followed two parallel paths: building a business to sustain his mission and conducting research aimed at addressing profound human- tech crises. The enduring nature of his efforts spans nearly half a century, informing both his entrepreneurial and scholarly endeavors.