Chinese scientists believe we are at a major turning point in research, as they see more use of AI in science. After the 2024 Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry were announced, they shared their thoughts on how AI could change the way research is done.
The Nobel Prizes this year were given to scientists who made breakthroughs combining AI with fundamental sciences. Some were surprised, seeing this as a sign that the world now recognizes AI’s major role in science. However, others worried that AI might overshadow traditional scientists.
For example, this year’s Physics Nobel Prize went to machine learning scientists, while the Chemistry prize went to researchers in computational science. Xu Chunfu, a scientist at the Beijing Institute of Life Sciences, said this shows AI’s growing importance in research.
Xiao Yanghua, a professor at Fudan University, explained that we might be moving into a new era where AI plays a big part in scientific discovery. He believes more scientists will start using AI tools to help with their work, especially in fields like biology, chemistry, and medicine, where there’s still much potential.
However, scientists like Xiao also recognize that AI is just a tool. It can’t create new theories or ideas without human guidance. Xu also warned that AI should be used responsibly, making sure it doesn’t lead to unethical research or harm.
In the end, while AI can assist in many areas, it is still created and controlled by humans, and it can make mistakes like any other tool.
Source: globaltimes
