READ@PolyU: Meet the Author — Chen Qiufan

READ@PolyU: Meet the Author — Chen Qiufan
When Sci‑Fi & Real Life Collide: Imagining AI’s Next Chapter

Here comes the highlight of READ@PolyU campus‑wide reading programme this year.

Join us for an exclusive conversation with award‑winning science fiction author Mr Chen Qiufan, the creator of the stories in AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future, the READ@PolyU Common Book 2026.

In this talk, you’ll go behind the scenes of how these ten futuristic stories were imagined—and what they reveal about AI, society, and the choices we all face.

Time: 14 October 2026 (Wed), 14:30-15:30
Format: Hybrid (Face-to-Face at The Forum, 6/F, Library and Online via Zoom).
Quota: 80 (face-to-face), 200 (online)
Language: English

Register Now!

Event Rundown

  • Author talk: Mr Chen will discuss selected stories from AI 2041, sharing his creative process, inspirations, and the real‑world technologies behind the scenes
  • Q&A session: Moderated by Prof. Zhang Yu, Associate Professor, Department of Chinese History and Culture
  • Book signing: Bring your copy of AI 2041 for a personal autograph from Mr Chen

Ask Mr Chen Qiufan a question on Instagram – and win a book!

Have a question for Mr Chen about AI 2041, AI, or the future? Share it on Instagram and you could see your question answered live — and win a prize.

How to participate:

  1. Post a thought‑provoking question related to AI 2041 on your Instagram account.
  2. Use the hashtag: #PolyUReads_Chen_Qiufan
  3. Email a screenshot of your post to lbread@polyu.edu.hk
  4. Submission deadline: 12 October 2026 (Mon)
 

After the deadline, we will send your submitted questions to Mr Chen for selection. If your question is chosen, you will receive another bestselling book by Mr Chen as a prize. During the Q&A, Mr Chen will answer the Instagram questions first, before taking questions from the live and Zoom audience.

About the Author

Mr Chen Qiufan (aka Stanley Chan) is one of China’s most influential contemporary science fiction writers and a leading voice on technology and the future. Born in 1981 in Guangdong, he has published dozens of stories and novels that blend speculative imagination with sharp realism. His debut novel, Waste Tide, has been translated into multiple languages and won international acclaim, while his 2021 book AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future (co‑authored with Kai‑Fu Lee) became a global bestseller. Chen serves as President of the World Chinese Science Fiction Association and has held fellowships at Yale University and the Berggruen Institute.

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