In his compelling TEDx talk, Scott Aaronson confronts the prevalent notion of human exceptionalism in the era of artificial intelligence. As a distinguished figure in quantum computing and computer science, Aaronson examines the challenges and implications of clinging to the belief in human specialness amidst rapid AI advancements. With sharp wit and intellectual depth, he navigates the audience through the evolving landscape where machines rival and sometimes surpass human capabilities. Aaronson questions the assumptions that underpin our understanding of intelligence and explores the psychological barriers hindering our acceptance of AI as a formidable creative force. Scott Aaronson's exploration of The Problem with Human Specialness in the Age of AI invites us to reconsider our relationship with technology and reevaluate the narratives shaping our collective future Scott Aaronson is Schlumberger Chair of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin, and founding director of its Quantum Information Center, currently on leave at OpenAI to work on theoretical foundations of AI safety. He received his bachelor's from Cornell University and his PhD from UC Berkeley. Before coming to UT Austin, he spent nine years as a professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT. Aaronson's research in theoretical computer science has focused mainly on the capabilities and limits of quantum computers. His first book, Quantum Computing Since Democritus, was published in 2013 by Cambridge University Press. He received the National Science Foundation’s Alan T. Waterman Award, the United States PECASE Award, the Tomassoni-Chisesi Prize in Physics, and the ACM Prize in Computing, and is a Fellow of the ACM and the AAAS. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx