杨斌：好奇心而不是好胜心 更值得基金会来鼓励

Core Insights - The importance of curiosity over competitiveness is emphasized, suggesting that exploration and play are more valuable than winning, as they contribute to social value and the underlying drive of individuals and culture [1][18][6] Group 1: Funding and Research Support - Collaboration between university researchers and corporate R&D often focuses on short to medium-term practical contributions, while foundations should support non-consensus, free exploration in fundamental fields for long-term innovation culture [2][19] - Current funding for exploratory research is still in its early stages, but the awareness of its importance can significantly influence future development in this area [20] - The concept of a "reward function" in AI training is likened to funding incentives for researchers, indicating that the direction of funding can have lasting impacts on individuals and the research environment [20] Group 2: Historical Context and Examples - The reference to the 1939 article "The Utility of Useless Knowledge" by Flexner highlights the value of basic scientific exploration that may not have immediate applications but can lead to significant future contributions [21][22] - The story of the 1956 Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence illustrates how curiosity-driven research received funding despite its complexity and lack of immediate clarity, ultimately leading to groundbreaking advancements in AI [27][29][31] Group 3: Encouraging Curiosity - Curiosity should be encouraged in education, particularly in primary and secondary schooling, to foster a spirit of exploration that can adapt to the changes brought by AI [25] - A cultural shift is needed to support curiosity-driven exploration, allowing for diverse behaviors and ideas without strict judgment based on success or failure [25][26] - The potential for a global community to support curiosity-driven research is growing, with individuals increasingly willing to engage in meaningful work that contributes to society [26]