"AI Formulates Hypotheses and Writes Papers"...What Is the Role of Human Scientists?

Korean Academy of Science and Technology Hosts Roundtable on the Era of AI Scientists
Discussing Shifts in Research Paradigms

As the era of 'AI scientists'—artificial intelligence systems capable of discovering research ideas, designing experiments, and even writing academic papers—becomes a reality, discussions are emerging to explore the evolving role of human scientists.

The Korean Academy of Science and Technology announced on the 13th that it will hold its 253rd Academy Roundtable Discussion at 4 p.m. on the 14th, under the theme "The Era of AI Scientists: The Role of Human Scientists."

Invitation to the Academy Roundtable Discussion. Provided by the Academy

Recently, major global academic journals have introduced AI scientist systems that handle everything from formulating research hypotheses and designing experiments to analyzing data and writing papers, fueling interest in paradigm shifts at research sites. This has sparked new debates in the scientific community about whether AI can be considered more than just a research tool—potentially a new principal agent in research—and how to redefine the role of human researchers.

How Far Can AI Replace Human Researchers?

The roundtable will focus on the technological maturity of AI scientists, the feasibility of their application in real research settings, and strategies for building a national research ecosystem in the age of AI.

Yoo Yonggyun, Director of the National Science AI Research Center at the National Research Council of Science & Technology, will introduce the concept of AI scientists and present domestic and international trends in research and development under the topic "The Development of Autonomous Science Systems and the Role of the National Science AI Research Center."

Lee Jaehyun, Head of the AIX Strategy Office at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), will discuss "The Current State and Future Prospects of AI Scientist Technology," highlighting the differences between 'AI for Science (AI4S)' and 'AI scientists,' as well as changes in research paradigms and upcoming challenges.

Lee Sangmin, Professor of Chemical Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), will present examples of using AI in virus research and share his insights on the roles that human scientists should assume in the AI era.

The comprehensive discussion that follows will be moderated by Cho Sungbae, Professor of Computer Science at Yonsei University, and will include participants such as Son Youngsung, Principal Researcher at the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI); Kim Soyoung, Professor at the KAIST Graduate School of Science and Technology Policy; and Yang Hwayoung, Deputy Team Leader of the YTN AX Task Force Team. They will discuss the changes and challenges that AI scientists may bring across diverse fields, including research, education, and media.

Chung Jin Ho, President of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology, stated, "The emergence of AI scientists could serve as a turning point, not only driving technological innovation to boost research productivity but also transforming the very nature of scientific inquiry. This event will offer an opportunity to discuss the outlook for the future research ecosystem and the tasks that our scientific and technological community needs to prepare for."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.