Roundtable with Shaw Laureates focuses on AI, int’l cooperation

HONG KONG, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) — The Roundtable With Shaw Laureates, organized by the Shaw Prize Foundation and the Hong Kong Science Museum, was held on Thursday to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the scientific community as well as interpersonal to international communication and collaboration.
The forum, themed “Future of Science: Breakthroughs and Impacts,” gathered four 2024 Shaw Prize laureates to share their personal experience with academic research, insights and outlook.
Acknowledging the important role of AI in advancing scientific research, the four scientists said it replaced the “trial and error” methods of the old days with data processing, machine learning, models building and discovering relationships between variables. They also underscored a balance between scientific research and AI, suggesting that AI should be introduced both timely and appropriately.
Mathematician Peter Sarnak stressed the need to harness valuable resources such as international conferences held in metropolises such as Hong Kong and give full play to the role of AI in scientific breakthroughs via international cooperation.
Astronomy Prize winner Shrinivas R Kulkarni believed that the sharing of ample data is of great benefit to scientific research, transforming the traditional mode of scientific research from merely releasing papers, and pooling the wisdom of more individuals and teams.
The scientists also encouraged young researchers to trace back to the origin in scientific research and explore the process of theoretical change.
Four scientists were awarded the Shaw Prize Award on Tuesday for their prominent work in the prize’s three categories: astronomy, life science and medicine, as well as mathematical sciences. ■