A student attending the seminar asked an MIT professor.

“In the age of artificial intelligence, what would you tell the next generation to learn?”

The audience burst into laughter. A professor of brain and cognitive science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) also laughed and replied, "I would tell them to study mathematics."

This happened not long ago at an artificial intelligence symposium held at COEX. Due to the aftermath of the Go match between Google DeepMind's AI AlphaGo and Lee Sedol, the venue was packed with people, leaving no room to even stand. The organizers of the seminar went out of their way to emphasize that the event was scheduled before the announcement of the 'Go match of the century,' and could not hide their mixed feelings of joy and bitterness regarding the unexpected 'success.'

Interest in the event was not solely due to the large number of attendees. What was distinctly different was the media attention, which had not been seen in previous years. Broadcast cameras set up camp at a symposium on the specialized field of artificial intelligence, a subject that sounds like a headache just to hear about. Didn't a certain scholar once say something similar when the book *Justice: What Is It?* refused to leave the bestseller list? "Have our people ever been this thirsty for 'justice'!"


▲ Media competition for coverage at the AI symposium held at COEX was fiercer than ever.

People and the media, thirsty for 'artificial intelligence ,' concentrated intently, not wanting to miss a single word from the seminar speakers. At the symposium, AI experts from companies including IBM (home to Watson, famous for defeating a human in a chess match), Microsoft, Samsung Electronics, and MIT took the stage to share their views on the current state of AI technology and its impact on humans.

Is artificial intelligence poison or medicine for humanity?

IBM’s Chief Technology Officer Rob High stated, “The ultimate goal of artificial intelligence is to reflect human emotions and thoughts,” adding, “We will face changes that impact our lives within the next five years.” He emphasized the positive aspects of artificial intelligence, stating that Google's AlphaGo had a positive impact on the industry through Go and that AI would enhance human cognitive abilities, enabling us to become better 'humans'.

MS Research Asia Vice President Wei-Ying Ma also expressed a cautious stance, reflecting people's expectations and concerns regarding artificial intelligence, stating, "The replacement of humans by artificial intelligence is becoming a reality," and adding, "It is necessary for increasing productivity, but we will have to wait and see how far it evolves."

Lee Keun-bae, Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics, who says that artificial intelligence will "enter our lives more" in the future, also suggested a compromise(?) by saying, "While artificial intelligence will play a role in helping people or even replacing them, ultimately we must find a way for humans and artificial intelligence to coexist."

During the discussion held after the lecture, more realistic(?) topics emerged. It was noted that artificial intelligence, sparked by AlphaGo, is a field that has been researched for a long time. Over the years, it has repeatedly faded from public attention and reappeared, undergoing two or three ups and downs. The sentiment that computing power is now different from the past, leading to the realization of previously imagined things, resonated with many.

The meaning of 'waiting' and 'basic physical strength'

However, domestic panelists voiced concerns regarding the high level of interest in artificial intelligence. They lamented that while the fundamental technologies for AI must ultimately originate from academia, the current environment forces universities to focus solely on research into technologies that can be applied immediately. It sounded even more bitter to the reporter because such painful words were not heard only in the field of artificial intelligence.

In this context, the words of a panelist who has dedicated decades to the field of artificial intelligence left a lasting impression. Regarding the recent trend of eagerness for AI, he emphasized the need to reflect on the concepts of "patience" and "fundamental strength." He argued that since AI research is not a field where immediate results are obtained, one must wait, and the foundation must be solidified by integrating data computing operations with education. He suggested that, paradoxically, taking things slowly is the way to achieve greater progress.

Waiting and fundamental physical strength are exactly what is needed in an era where people are making a fuss about 'creating' an 'economy'.