When it comes to artificial intelligence, what are we actually creating? Even those closest to its development are struggling to describe exactly where things are headed, says Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, one of the primary architects of the AI models many of us use today. He offers an honest and compelling new vision for the future of AI, proposing an unignorable metaphor — a new digital species — to focus attention on this extraordinary moment. (Followed by a Q&A with head of TED Chris Anderson)

What is an AI anyway?

Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving into something far richer than just a tool; it is beginning to look and act like a new digital species. In just 18 months, over a billion people have interacted with large language models, and these systems now create art, manage infrastructure, and offer meaningful conversations. The speaker argues that seeing AI as mere code misses its growing complexity and agency. The challenge ahead is to intentionally guide this creation with empathy, creativity, and careful boundaries.