A high-level discussion centered around "Research Transformation in the AI Era" recently took place on Zhihu, marking the climax of Zhihu's 2025 Science Season. Zhihu collaborated with authoritative institutions such as Kepu China, the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and Bioart to organize this event. Three scientists who won the 2025 World Laureates Association Prize were invited to discuss cutting-edge scientific topics: Liya Sun, Scott Emr, and Wes Sundquist.
The discussion focused on the disruptive impact of AI on the research paradigm. Liya Sun, a professor emeritus at the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University, first turned his attention to the intersection of AI and mathematics, raising a key question: "How will the development of AI change the study of pure mathematics and applied mathematics?"
In the field of biological sciences, two leading scholars posed challenging propositions. Wes Sundquist, a distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Utah, questioned the value of basic science: "How does basic science drive human health and industrial development? How important is it?" Meanwhile, Scott Emr, a professor emeritus at Cornell University, focused on a more specific cellular mechanism, asking: "What special roles does the ESCRT complex, which is commonly found in cells, play in neurons? How might it affect neurodegenerative diseases?"
It is reported that this discussion on "New Paradigms of AI-Driven Research" is a key event of Zhihu's 2025 Science Season. Previously, in September of this year, Zhihu successfully invited three academicians, including Academician Jisheng Han from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Academician Guofang Pang from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and International Academician Jian'an Li from the National Academy of Medicine in the United States, to share their valuable research experiences, providing the public with high-quality scientific content.
