Expert: Development of AI necessitates reshaping of talent structure

The development of artificial intelligence is transforming research models, necessitating a reshaping of talent structures to cultivate new professionals with skills in interdisciplinary knowledge, innovation, and communication. Dou Zhicheng, deputy dean of the Renmin University of China Gaoling School of Artificial Intelligence, said this in his lecture titled "Scientific and Technological Innovation and Talent Cultivation in the Era of Artificial Intelligence" at the inaugural "Beijing-Shanghai Forum" held in Beijing on Saturday.

The forum, themed "Advancing the Construction of International Science and Technology Innovation Centers", was jointly organized by Renmin University of China and Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.

The forum brought together nearly 20 experts, representatives, and government officials. The participants engaged in in-depth discussions on a variety of topics, such as the impact of artificial intelligence on economic and social development, investments in basic research, the development of advanced manufacturing clusters, the growth of the science and technology service industry and the establishment of global talent hubs.

Lin Shangli, president of Renmin University of China, emphasized that building international science and technology innovation centers is a strategic action for countries to participate in the technological revolution, develop new quality productive forces and enhance their international competitiveness.

Ying Hanjie, academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Soochow University, said the forum, relying on the profound accumulation of scientific and educational resources in Beijing and Shanghai, focuses on the construction of international science and technology innovation centers. It fully demonstrates the mission and responsibilities of the two cities in serving the country’s major strategic needs and promoting the process of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance.

In his keynote address, Yu Dianfan, executive dean at the Beijing Research Institute of SUFE, presented the research report titled "Building a Globally Influential Science and Technology Innovation Center in Shanghai: Progress and Future". The report outlined the essential components of a globally influential science and technology innovation center, including leading capabilities in original innovation, high-level technological innovation, robust industrial development momentum, an excellent innovation ecosystem, and an open, collaborative innovation network. Yu also proposed five suggestions for advancing the construction of such a center: strengthening the planning and layout of basic research to enhance original innovation capabilities; integrating the entire innovation chain and optimizing the acceleration mechanism for the full innovation lifecycle; creating an open, inclusive business environment to stimulate innovation within industrial sectors; exploring new models for the industrialization of research outcomes to optimize the innovation ecosystem; and accelerating cooperation among Guangdong, Beijing and Shanghai provincial-level regions to increase the global influence of the innovation center.

Zhang Jie, deputy dean of the RUC Capital Development and Governance Institute, in his report "The Progress, Challenges, and Suggestions for Building a Globally Leading International Science and Technology Innovation Center in Beijing", highlighted five major issues that Beijing faces in advancing its international science and technology innovation center: insufficient investment in basic research, challenges to the development of the science and technology services industry, inadequate talent cultivation and aggregation, insufficient international presence, and a lack of sufficient internationalization in Beijing's promotion of the innovation center. To address these challenges, Zhang suggested strengthening frontier original and disruptive technological innovations, developing a high-tech manufacturing system and advanced manufacturing clusters, optimizing and upgrading the technology services industry, and building a global talent hub.

During the special lecture session, Dou said that generative large models have made language computable and it is being integrated into various aspects of social life to improve multiple fields. He also noted that AI's healthy development requires multidisciplinary support to redefine technology, making it a harmonious force for human coexistence and solving critical future challenges.