I had the privilege of attending the exclusive round table event at the 2024 Asian American Science Forum (AASF) at Stanford University the day before the full meeting. This pre-event gathering brought together some of the most prominent figures in science, technology, and policy to discuss groundbreaking advancements and collaborative strategies for addressing global challenges. Here’s an in-depth look at the key topics and insights from this significant gathering.
Goals of the Round Table
The round table had one primary objective:
Educate and Innovate: The topics included:
AI Infrastructure and Safety: This session focused on the development of robust and secure AI systems. Discussions revolved around the infrastructure needed to support AI advancements and the safety measures required to ensure these technologies are used responsibly.
Speakers:
Prof. Yiran Chen (moderator), John Cocke Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of NSF AI Institute for Edge Computing at Duke University
Dr. Fei-Fei Li, Inaugural Sequoia Professor and Co-Director of Human-Centered AI Institute at Stanford University
Dr. Hai “Helen” Li, Professor in the Clare Boothe Luce and Chair of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Duke University
Dr. Dawn Song, Professor in the Department of EECS and Co-director of Center on Responsible Decentralized Intelligence (RDI) at UC Berkeley
AI for X: This session explored the diverse applications of AI across various fields, demonstrating its potential to revolutionize industries such as healthcare, transportation, and finance.
Speakers:
Prof. Ju Li, Tokyo Electric Power Company Professor in Nuclear Engineering at MIT
Dr. Mengdi Wang (moderator?), Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Center for Statistics and Machine Learning at Princeton University
Dr. Le Cong, Assistant Professor in the Departments of Pathology and Genetics at Stanford Medical School
Dr. Xuedong Huang, CTO of Zoom Video Communications
Energy and New Materials: Presentations in this session highlighted the latest innovations in energy solutions and material science, emphasizing sustainable technologies that can address climate change and energy storage challenges.
Speakers:
Prof. Yi Cui, Fortinet Founders Professor of Engineering and Director of Sustainability Accelerator at Stanford University
Prof. Zhenan Bao, K.K. Lee Professor in Chemical Engineering at Stanford University
Prof. Gang Chen (moderator), Carl Richard Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering and Director of the Pappalardo Micro/Nano Engineering Lab at MIT
Prof. Zhigang Suo, Allen E. and Marilyn M. Puckett Professor of Mechanics and Materials
Life Sciences: This session focused on breakthroughs in biotechnology and medical research, showcasing how advancements in these areas can improve human health and combat diseases.
Speakers:
Prof. Haifan Lin (moderator), Eugene Higgins Professor of Cell Biology and Founding Director of Yale Stem Cell Center
Dr. Xiaole (Shirley) Liu, Co-founder and CEO of GV20 Therapeutics
Dr. Liqun Luo, Ann and Bill Swindells Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford University and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator
Dr. Xiaodong Wang, Founding director of NIBS and co-founder and board member of BeiGene, Inc.
Topics That I Found Most Interesting
Prof. Ju Li
Automated Search of Liquid Electrolytes for Rechargeable Batteries: Prof. Ju Li who I met during the AAASE camp in Princeton further explained innovative approaches to automate the search for optimal liquid electrolytes using active learning and AI to conduct autonomous experiments. The result was something straight out of a sci-fi movie like a real life "Jarvis". Their version is called CRESt.
Dr. Le Cong
AI-Inspired Bioengineering: Dr. Le Cong presented on how AI can inspire new approaches in bioengineering, leading to innovative solutions in medicine and biology.
Generative Design of Molecules: He discussed the use of AI to generatively design molecules, which can accelerate drug discovery and the development of new materials.
Building a Foundational RMA Model Using AI: Dr. Cong explored how AI can build robust and foundational models for Ribonucleic Acid (RNA), aiding in the understanding and manipulation of genetic information.
CRISPR GPT: The concept of combining CRISPR technology with Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPT) was introduced, potentially enabling more precise and efficient genetic modifications.
Saving Years of Time for Medicine and Biology: Dr. Cong emphasized how AI can dramatically reduce the time required for research and development in medicine and biology.
Prof. Yi Cui
Opportunities in Global Energy Transition: Prof. Yi Cui discussed the vast opportunities available in the global transition to sustainable energy sources.
Decarbonizing Industry, Transport, and Buildings: He emphasized the importance of decarbonizing major sectors such as industry, transport, and buildings to mitigate climate change.
What’s Already Working: Prof. Cui highlighted successful implementations in:
Clean energy generation
Long-distance transmission lines
LED lighting
Li-ion batteries
What’s Missing: He identified key areas requiring further innovation, including:
Long-duration energy storage (100 TWh, trillion-dollar market)
High-energy-density and lower-cost battery technology
Carbon capture and removal (volunteer market)
Renewable fuels (including hydrogen, trillion-dollar market)
Digitalization and energy system integration
Low-carbon steel (much emission, iron oxide to iron through reduction)
Low-carbon cement
Reinventing plastics
Sustainable food, farming, fertilizer, meats
Nuclear energy: small modular reactors, fusion
Circular economy: mining reuse, recycle
Battery recycling and recycling renewable tech
Power for AI (AI computing): How do we power this?
Engaging with Leading Academics
I had the unique opportunity to engage with some of these renowned academics directly. One of the highlights was a conversation with Dr. Fei-Fei Li, often referred to as the "godmother of AI." I asked her about her views on the high energy consumption of AI systems. Dr. Li emphasized the importance of developing more energy-efficient AI algorithms and leveraging renewable energy sources to power AI infrastructure. She also highlighted ongoing research aimed at minimizing the carbon footprint of AI technologies, ensuring that advancements in AI contribute positively to environmental sustainability.
Conclusion
The AASF 2024 round table at Stanford University was an inspiring and insightful event, setting the stage for the full forum. By bringing together leading minds to address critical issues in AI infrastructure and safety, AI applications, energy, new materials, and life sciences, the event underscored the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.
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