Winner of the Turing Award: China's rise in science and technology is impressive.

CGTN – On July 13, the 2025 International Congress on Basic Science (ICBS) opened in Beijing, and Turing Award winner Robert Tarjan received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Basic Science. 

In an exclusive interview with China Media Group, Tarjan said that the Lifetime Achievement Award in Basic Sciences led him to reflect on his decades-long academic career, especially remembering his late parents. "My father told me that no one can take the knowledge out of my head; if you have intelligence, you have a responsibility to use it to benefit everyone," he said.

Speaking about artificial intelligence, Tarjan admitted that he thought it "wasn't mathematically good enough" in the early days and was quite shocked by today's achievements. He tends to believe that AI development is cyclical, and it is still far from "superintelligence" with human curiosity and emotional autonomy. Ethical and emotional challenges will determine the future direction of AI.

The rise of science and technology in China impressed Tarjan. He highlighted that long-term strategic investment, a solid education system, and diligent students are China's main strengths in the field of AI and basic science. 

At the end of the interview, Tarjan sent a message to young scientists: respect high standards and maintain critical reading; seek simplicity and elegance, and have the courage to share and cooperate. 

Source: CMG