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TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi to NTU PhD students: 'Seek out the unknown'

TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi delivered a speech to NTU's PhD conferment ceremony, urging graduates to embrace uncertainty and use their expertise to make a meaningful global impact.

By Tan Min-Wei·Aug 1·mothership.sg·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi to NTU PhD students: 'Seek out the unknown'
Image: mothership.sg

TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi spoke to NTU PhD graduates, encouraging them to seek out the unknown and apply their knowledge to real-world problems. He shared his own experiences transitioning from an analogue to a digital world and leading TikTok into an AI-enabled future.

Why it matters

Chew's speech highlights the importance of embracing uncertainty and using expertise to make a meaningful global impact. His message is relevant to anyone looking to make a difference in the world.

TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi told NTU PhD graduates to be brave and try new things. He said that technology is not just about computers and code, but about helping people. He also reminded them that they are not alone and that their community can help them achieve their goals.

Analysis

A Journey of Self-Discovery and Growth

Chew's speech was a testament to the power of self-discovery and growth. He shared his own journey from growing up in an analogue world to launching his career during the digital transformation. He emphasized that technology is not just about hardware and code, but about unlocking human potential. Chew's story serves as a reminder that our experiences and knowledge can be used to make a meaningful impact in the world.

The Importance of Community

Chew also spoke about the importance of community in sustaining us, reminding us of our purpose, and reflecting back to us what we are truly capable of. He encouraged the graduates to rely on their network of peers with whom they were graduating, emphasizing that community is what sustains us and reminds us of our purpose.

Embracing Uncertainty

Chew's speech was a call to action for the graduates to actively seek out the unknown. He encouraged them to take their knowledge and apply it to the messy, ambiguous problems of the real world. He emphasized that the present moment is one of massive structural change, which is a pivotal and exciting point in history. Chew's message is a reminder that we have the power to shape our own futures and make a meaningful impact in the world.

Key points

  • TikTok CEO Chew Shou Zi spoke to NTU PhD graduates, encouraging them to seek out the unknown and apply their knowledge to real-world problems.
  • Chew shared his own experiences transitioning from an analogue to a digital world and leading TikTok into an AI-enabled future.
  • He emphasized the importance of community in sustaining us, reminding us of our purpose, and reflecting back to us what we are truly capable of.
  • Chew's speech was a call to action for the graduates to actively seek out the unknown and make a meaningful impact in the world.
The Upside

If the graduates take Chew's message to heart and actively seek out the unknown, they may be able to make a meaningful impact in the world. They may be able to use their knowledge to solve real-world problems and improve people's lives.

The Downside

However, if the graduates do not take Chew's message seriously and instead choose to stick with what they know, they may miss out on opportunities to make a meaningful impact. They may also struggle to adapt to the rapidly changing world and may find themselves left behind.

Originally reported at

mothership.sg

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagstiktokceontuphdstudentsseekunknown

Author

Tan Min-Wei

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Aug 1, 2026

Source

mothership.sg

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