China's AI science goals risk being held back by reliance on imported equipment

China's ambition to lead in Artificial Intelligence for Science may be hampered by its dependence on imported precision equipment, according to a prominent Chinese researcher.

Weinan E, a professor at Peking University's mathematical sciences school and a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlighted this challenge at the "AI for Science" conference in Shanghai. He explained that sophisticated scientific instruments, such as mass spectrometers, are indispensable for producing the high-quality experimental data required to develop, validate, and refine advanced scientific models.

E, who introduced the concept of "AI for Science" in 2018, likened the situation to a chef trying to cook without ingredients. "Without domestically developed precision instruments, it becomes difficult to obtain first-hand, high-quality experimental data, leaving AI 'like cooking without rice,'" he stated, as reported by The Paper.

Scientists worldwide are increasingly using AI tools to enhance research, from improving computational modeling to optimizing experimental design. However, the effectiveness of these AI applications hinges on the quality of the data they process. If China cannot domestically produce the necessary high-precision equipment, its researchers may struggle to gather the foundational data needed to advance AI in scientific discovery, potentially creating a bottleneck in its research and development efforts.

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Without domestically developed precision instruments, it becomes difficult to obtain first-hand, high-quality experimental data, leaving AI ‘like cooking without rice’.