Everything ends, only God eternal: Putin on viral longevity chat with Xi

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed the idea of human immortality, saying that while science can significantly extend life expectancy, “everything has an end — only God is eternal.” In an exclusive interview with India Today TV during his two-day visit to India, Putin was asked directly whether he believed immortality was achievable — a question prompted by his earlier hot-mic conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing that went viral worldwide.

He was asked: “Do you think immortality is achievable?” Putin replied: “Everything has an end, only God is eternal. We can extend longevity of life, 100%. I am sure we can.” He pointed to historic gains in public health to underline his view. “Seventy-seven years ago, the average lifespan of a person in India was 31 years, and now it’s about 70. That’s what healthcare does. In India, infant mortality was cut four-fold. These are all the results of healthcare efforts.”

He added that advancing technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, would accelerate this progress. “If you use AI in healthcare, and if you use AI to produce drugs, it can have a tremendous effect,” Putin said, while reiterating that human life, ultimately, is finite. “Nevertheless, everything comes to an end.”

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