Experts Discuss AI's Role in Scientific Advancement

Artificial intelligence (AI) experts, government officials, researchers, and business leaders gathered in Beijing on Wednesday to explore how AI can accelerate advancements in scientific research, with a focus on AI’s role in data-driven research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhancing research efficiency.

The Symposium on AI for Science (AI4S) was organized by the World Internet Conference (WIC) Specialized Committee on Artificial Intelligence (SC on AI), with the Alibaba Group, co-leader of the specialized committee's industry program, serving as the main organizer. Co-organizers included the Institute for Artificial Intelligence of Tsinghua University, IBM and SAP.

Wang Song, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, attended the symposium and delivered a speech. Ren Xianliang, secretary-general of the WIC, presided over the event.

AI is increasingly seen as a driving force in the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, rapidly influencing various sectors of society and the economy, the experts said.

In scientific research, experts emphasized AI’s potential to enable data-driven scientific research, push the boundaries of scientific exploration, foster interdisciplinary development, enhance research efficiency, and enrich the research community.

The digital divide constrains inclusive development, the integration of different disciplines remains inadequate, and potential security issues cannot be overlooked.

They offered recommendations regarding the future role of AI in scientific advancement. 

They highlighted inclusive development by optimizing and sharing global research resources to involve researchers from different regions in the process of AI for science.

Efforts should also focus on cooperation in talent cultivation and joint development of disciplines, and foster deeper integration of industry, academia, and research.

Moreover, it is essential to adhere to a human-centered approach, with the goal of advancing global well-being while ensuring AI aligns with scientific ethics and serves the public interest.

Key speakers at the event included Wang Jian, chief chair of WIC SC on AI, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and president of Zhejiang Lab; Gong Ke, adviser of WIC SC on AI, executive director of the Chinese Institute of New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Strategies; Sun Maosong, vice-chair and lead of Industry Program of WIC SC on AI, foreign member of Academia Europaea, executive vice dean and professor at Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Tsinghua University; Zeng Yi, chair of WIC SC on AI and professor at the Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences; and Ye Jieping, vice president of Alibaba Group and head of its big data and AI lab.

Online participants included Schahram Dustdar, chair of WIC SC on AI, member of Academia Europaea, full professor and head of the Research Division of Distributed Systems at the TU Wien, Austria; and Dame Wendy Hall, chair of WIC SC on AI, fellow of the Royal Society, regius professor of Computer Science and associate vice president at the University of Southampton, and expert of the UN high-level advisory body on artificial intelligence, who participated via video.

Other participants in the discussions included representatives from Beijing’s research authorities, institutions, and enterprises.

At the event, Alibaba Group revealed that its Tongyi Qianwen open-source AI large language modelhas generated over 90,000 derivative models. Specialized models in fields such as astronomy and lunar research have been developed from Tongyi Qianwen open-source AI large language model, significantly enhancing scientific research capabilities.

Over 300 participants, including WIC SC on AI members, WIC members, and representatives from government departments, embassies, research institutions, and enterprises, attended the meeting both online and offline.