By 2050, AI systems will achieve research results comparable to the best scientific breakthroughs. That is the goal of the Nobel Turing Grand Challenge, and for the first time in Sweden a conference is being organized to tackle this challenge and to discuss how to advance the use of AI in research. One of the organizers is CSE's Ross King, professor at the division of Data Science and AI.
"While scientific discoveries have significantly improved our quality of life, we still face major challenges in society. In these challenges, AI presents vast potential to push science even further," says Ross King.
Artificial intelligence is already used in various research fields, contributing to the development of new antibiotics and the identification of new materials for batteries to name a few. In order to explore AI:s full potential within scientific research WASP (Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software) aim to create a world-wide community to tackle the Nobel Turing Grand Challenge. To do this they are bringing together two Nobel laureates in chemistry, Stefan W. Hell and Arieh Warshell, a Turing Prize winner, Edward A. Feigenbaum, and several leading AI researchers. Their goal will be to develop ”AI researchers”: AI systems capable of producing Nobel Prize-worthy research results.
"There are huge opportunities in fields like pharmaceuticals. Research that has not been prioritized because it is not cost-effective would have entirely different prospects with AI, where AI could have great societal benefits," says Ross King.
The workshop also aims to explore the ethical and social impacts of using AI in science.
"Like any new technology, there is the potential of using it for harm, which we must anticipate to prevent. There are also legal questions to discuss, for example how do we handle intellectual property issues when a human is not involved?
The workshop will take place on 3-6 October at Rånäs Castle in Uppsala.
Organizing committee:
- Ross D. King, professor at the department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Chalmers University of Technology, professor at the University of Cambridge and Wallenberg Chair in AI.
- Hiroaki Kitano, CEO of Sony Research Inc., Chief Technology Officer of Sony Group Corporation, President and CEO of Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc. and Professor at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology
- Bengt Nordén, professor at Chalmers University of Technology and former Chair of Nobel Prize Chemistry Committee
- Rocío Mercado, Assistant Professor at the department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at Chalmers University of Technology and WASP Faculty.
- Full Professor, Data Science and AI, Computer Science and Engineering