Chen Tianqiao's transformation from China's youngest richest man to an explorer of brain science has puzzled many people. He gave up the top wealth and business empire that everyone envied, and instead devoted himself to a basic scientific research that may not be easy to see returns for decades. So what is the driving force behind this?
The turnaround after the peak
Chen Tianqiao became the richest man in China at the age of 31. The Shanda Network he founded defined the online gaming era in China. However, after reaching the peak of his business achievements, he neither chose to stick to his achievements nor follow the path of repeating past successes. The Shanda Box project encountered setbacks, which was interpreted by the outside world as a failure caused by being "too ahead of its time", but this prompted him to enter a period of deep reflection.
This period of thinking about the MBTI personality test , which has taken several years, is not about how to obtain more wealth, but about exploring what is a career that can truly "excit yourself and benefit everyone". He realized that although games and entertainment satisfied people's needs at a certain moment, they did not touch the most fundamental challenges and dilemmas of human existence.
Focus on fundamental issues
In the process of participating in charity and public welfare activities, Chen Tianqiao's focus gradually became concentrated. He realized that neither poverty alleviation through education nor disease relief directly addressed the two ultimate troubles of human beings: pain and death. Pain is not only a physiological signal, but also a subjective perception that directly affects the quality of life.
Based on this situation and the MBTI personality test , he constructed a key point, that is, human perception creates the world in their cognition. For example, the phenomenon of phantom limb pain shows that even if the limb no longer exists, the brain can still produce a strong sense of pain. This makes him firmly believe that by changing perception, there is the possibility of changing a person's world. This has a more profound significance than creating external wealth.
Betting on the field of brain science
In 2016, Chen Tianqiao and his wife donated US$115 million to the California Institute of Technology for brain research. This move shocked people at home and abroad. He feels that human beings' understanding of their own brains is still in its infancy, which has severely restricted the overall progress of science and technology. Even artificial intelligence, which is very popular at the moment, has encountered a bottleneck because it cannot understand the underlying logic of human thinking.
A smart science, he regards investment in it as a "risk investment" for the future of mankind. He hopes to explore the nature of perception, memory and even consciousness by supporting basic research at the forefront, and provide a new scientific foundation for treating mental illness, alleviating chronic pain and even understanding the situation of death in the future.
The ambition to “hack” the brain
Chen Tianqiao divides brain science research into two levels, namely "understanding" and "cracking." Understanding the brain is the foundation, which is similar to learning a computer's operating system. However, "cracking" represents the ability to intervene and change the operating rules of the brain. He began to imagine that in the future, it may be possible to use technological means to directly regulate people's emotions or sensory experiences.
He compared the abilities of superheroes and felt that this kind of science fiction scenario might become a reality in the future; he firmly believed that our generation might be lucky enough to witness humans break through their own biological constraints with the help of technology. And then achieve "evolution" on a certain level, which is more exciting than creating any commercial product, and I am very excited about it and full of joy.
Unique practice path
At a practical level, Chen Tianqiao adopts a strategy that is different from traditional philanthropy or scientific research funding. He draws on the venture capital model. His purpose is to find and long-term support for scientists and projects with great innovative potential, especially young scientific research talents. He carries out strategic cooperation with the world's top universities to build a scientific research ecosystem.
He and his wife Luo Qianqian made the decision to keep only the funds needed to ensure family life and continue to invest the vast majority of their wealth in this career. They are mentally prepared that the first phase of US$1 billion in funding may take decades to bear fruit, and they plan to continue to invest more, showing patience and determination that are different from ordinary people.
Waiting beyond time
Chen Tianqiao knows for sure that major breakthroughs in brain science may have to wait fifty years or even longer, and he himself will most likely not see the most disruptive results. However, he feels that this is precisely the value of basic scientific research – someone has to sow the seeds for the distant future. Such an attitude that does not consider short-term returns is particularly special in a business society that pursues quick results.
He frankly said that when he was working on the "Grand Box" in the past, no one could understand his advanced layout; now that he is involved in the field of brain science, he also encountered a lot of incomprehension. However, he firmly believes that even if he only achieves a very small breakthrough in the end, the significance is far greater than repeating past business successes. This is an exploration that transcends the identity of an entrepreneur and focuses on the ultimate care of mankind.
Regarding Chen Tianqiao's complete transformation from the richest man to a scientific funder, do you agree more that this is a sublimation of ideals, or do you agree more that it is a misallocation of resources? Welcome to share your views in the comment area. If you find this article inspiring , please also like it and share it with more people.
