Chasing the Brilliance of Scientists as the Stars! Tsinghua Professor Joins Hands with Teenagers to Unravel the Mysteries of the “Intelligent World”

What’s your concept of artificial intelligence? Is it the clever and all-powerful Jarvis from the Iron Man movies? Or a robot that can handle cooking, cleaning, and companionship? On the afternoon of January 20, the public science campus outreach event “Chasing the Brilliance of Scientists as the Stars,” jointly organized by Future Forum and iFLYTEK, visited Huaiyin Middle School in Jiangsu Province. Wang Yu, a young scientist affiliated with Future Forum and a tenured professor of the Department of Electronic Engineering at Tsinghua University, guided hundreds of students from the school in exploring the mysteries of the “intelligent world” under the theme “Embarking into Artificial Intelligence.”

1. Unravelling the mysteries of AI

What exactly is artificial intelligence? Wang Yu commenced the lecture with two captivating videos, guiding students from Huaiyin Middle School to collectively unlock the “door” to delve into artificial intelligence. “Artificial intelligence is the exploration of enabling machines to think and act like humans, progressing through three stages — ‘computational intelligence,’ ‘perceptual intelligence,’ and ‘cognitive intelligence’[…]”

With just a few words, the students’ curiosity was ignited, prompting them to delve into the exploration of artificial intelligence technology.

As a prominent scholar in the field of artificial intelligence, Wang Yu navigated the intricate landscape of AI, covering its development, evolution, basic principles, and algorithmic computing power in a lecture spanning nearly two hours.

In discussing the future of artificial intelligence algorithm technology, Wang Yu emphasized the global popularity of the universal large model and delved into its “hardcore applications” extending beyond entertainment. “In addition to enhancing natural and intelligent human-computer interaction, large models can be applied to various fields such as medical diagnosis, analyzing medical images and case data to provide personalized and accurate diagnoses and treatment recommendations. They also find application in intelligent transportation, optimizing traffic flow, predicting accident risks, and improving overall transportation efficiency.” This newfound knowledge pushed the boundaries of current understanding, leaving students eagerly anticipating the future developments of universal large models.

Addressing the topic that captivates students the most — the future development trend of artificial intelligence — Wang Yu shared his perspectives. He believes that intelligent robots represent a crucial application scenario for large models. General intelligent robots, in his view, serve as a significant solution to address the challenges posed by an aging population.

Wang Yu’s profound insights and vivid analysis of questions like “Will artificial intelligence surpass and control humans?” and “How does artificial intelligence think about abstracting general laws from massive data?” captivated the teachers and students, immersing them in the realm of the “intelligent world.” In the interaction session that followed, a “brainstorming” of “encountering AI” unfolded as everyone eagerly posed questions.

2. Engaging with top minds

With a history spanning 120 years, Huaiyin Middle School stands as one of the inaugural national and Jiangsu provincial demonstration high schools. In recent years, the school has diligently embraced the prevailing trends in modern education development, particularly educational informatization, actively exploring and innovating in its approach to progress. Notably, iFLYTEK and the school have forged comprehensive collaborations spanning teaching, research, and the holistic integration of education. The partnership aims to alleviate the workload and enhance efficiency across the spectrum of teaching, learning, examinations, assessments, research, and management.

On the same day, Chen Qing, the school’s vice principal, graced the occasion and delivered a speech. Welcoming and anticipating the scientific feast iFLYTEK presented, Chen Qing remarked, “Professor Wang Yu’s expertise in the academic domain, reflected in his lecture, offers us a fresh perspective, and stimulates contemplation. It provides an opportunity to engage with the latest academic advancements. I believe his lecture will stimulate our thoughts, enlighten our minds, and guide us toward a brighter future”.

It is noteworthy that the lecture at Huaiyin Middle School serves as the concluding event for the 2023 “Chasing the Brilliance of Scientists as the Stars” public science campus outreach series. As a social good initiative aimed at “spreading the scientific spirit and enlightening scientific thought among young people,” “Chasing the Brilliance of Scientists as the Stars” public science campus outreach series has been extended to schools such as Lianyungang Ganyu Foreign Language School, Wuhan Xizang Middle School, Hunan Leifeng New Town Experimental Primary School, Mianyang No. 4 Middle School, Ganzhou Yangming Middle School, and Jiangsu Huaiyin Middle School. Esteemed professors and scholars from Tsinghua University, Peking University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Beijing Normal University, the University of Hong Kong, and other renowned institutions have been invited to deliver science popularization lectures for students. The series has sparked a dynamic exchange between the “top minds” and the “young brains,” fostering a trend of respect for science, advocacy of scientific pursuits, and exploration of scientific knowledge among young people.

In the upcoming editions, “Chasing the Brilliance of Scientists as the Stars” series will continue to highlight recognized areas of the “Future Science Prize.” Emerging scientists in relevant fields will be invited to delve into the forefront of scientific and technological advancements in their disciplines. This initiative seeks to provide a dynamic platform for young individuals to engage in dialogues with scientists, fostering the dissemination of the scientific spirit and igniting aspirations for scientific dreams. It is hoped to guide the youth in viewing scientists as role models during their formative years.