On Aug 30, 2023, Fudan Institute for Advanced Study in Social Sciences (Fudan IAS) held the workshop on 2023 Annual Thesis: Past, Present and Future of Artificial Intelligence. All researchers and postdoctoral fellows of Fudan IAS attended the workshop. Prof. Sujian Guo, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Fudan IAS, chaired the workshop.

Prof. Guo firstly introduced the project status of Annual Thesis. Since 2014, with the joint efforts of all researchers of the Institute, Fudan IAS has taken Annual Thesis as the key to conduct fundamental and interdisciplinary research on major theoretical and practical frontiers of social sciences, which has promoted the transformation and development of Fudan IAS. 12 books were published consecutively and have already become the representative research achievements of the Institute.

Afterwards, Prof. Guo discussed academic value and practical significance of 2023 Annual Thesis Past, Present and Future of Artificial Intelligence. He pointed out that this thesis is a theoretical study of multidisciplinary comprehensive research in social sciences, which matches the interdisciplinary development orientation of Fudan IAS. AI has its profound philosophical connotation and theoretical foundation, and covers many important fields of practice and innovative activities in human society.

Prof. Guo further explained the concrete ideas and job split of 13 topics under this thesis. It should start with philosophical reflections on AI, explore the most important areas in which AI affects the social practice in chapters in between, and end up with questions about the ethical challenges of AI. The participants discussed academic value of this thesis based on their own professional expertise, and came to the agreement that AI is a cutting-edge topic and worth of in-depth research. After the discussion, our research fellows clarified the job split and would proceed the research work after the workshop.