洪小文博士在卡内基·梅隆大学2019毕业典礼上的演讲

编者按：近日，微软全球资深副总裁、微软亚太研发集团主席兼微软亚洲研究院院长洪小文博士回到母校——卡内基·梅隆大学，给计算机科学学院2019届毕业生们分享了自己有关人类智慧、科技影响、社会责任等心得。

感谢Tom Mitchell院长对我的介绍。我今天很荣幸回到母校。27年前我从这里毕业，今天，我的女儿也从这里毕业了！

在这里，我想分享我1992年从卡内基·梅隆大学毕业时所知晓的三件事以及之后领悟到的三件事。

首先，卡内基·梅隆大学拥有世界级的声誉。当初你们的选择是正确的！你们坚持梦想，如今学业有成，恭喜你们！

第二，计算机科学会对世界带来重要的影响。因此你们今后的职业发展一定会前途无量。

第三，在卡内基·梅隆大学会结识很多了不起的人。这其中就有我尊敬的导师Raj Reddy教授，在我求学以及今后的职业生涯中给予了我莫大的支持与帮助。在此我谨代表计算机科学学院的学生们，向所有老师致以最诚挚的敬意。

另外，告诉大家一个秘密，在我27年的职业生涯中，其中25年我的直接领导都是卡内基·梅隆大学的校友或是老师。

我毕业后领悟到的三件事：

人类智慧

我已与AI结缘有超过35年，这也让我愈加认识到人类智慧的伟大。我们必须谨记，每一项人工智能技术的进步，都是来自人类的创造和发明。

人类发明新算法所体现的创造力，是计算机远不能及的。认识世界的能力，拥有同理心，是我们作为人类的特质。

因此，我深刻地认识到学习人文科学，坚持以人为本的重要。人文科学能够为科学技术创新提供借鉴。因此，在探索计算机科学发展的同时，我们必须也要拓宽对人文科学的认识，学习掌握有关经济、社会科学、心理学、哲学、人类学的知识。

科技影响

我毕业后第二个领悟到的是科技的影响力。

科技推动世界进步的同时，人们对于科技的负面影响也有很多讨论，例如隐私侵犯、假新闻如何影响社会，以及人工智能在多大程度上会取代人类的工作。

在不断努力解决技术挑战和推动技术进步的同时，我们必须与其他领域的专家以及社会各界紧密合作。正如约翰·邓恩（John Donne）1624年写道：“没有人是一座孤岛。”我们生活在一个地球村中，因此必须对我们的工作可能带来的影响进行不断和深入地论证。最终，我们所创造的每一项技术，都将反映着我们的价值观。

回馈社会

我领悟的第三件事是：责任，更重要的是，给予过程中获得快乐。“施比受更有福。”当我们越多给予的时候，就越能体会这一句话的内涵。

比尔·盖茨就是这样一位楷模。我很幸运与他相识，并在过去24年，在他创立的公司工作期间受到他很多的启迪。我很荣幸能为卡内基·梅隆大学计算机科研学院盖茨·希尔曼中心（Gates-Hillman Center）的建立贡献绵薄之力。并希望当你有一天成功的时候，也能够不忘给予，回馈社会。而这其中，也包括我们的母校。

再次祝贺计算机科学学院2019届毕业生！谢谢大家！

演讲原文：

Hsiao-Wuen Hon, Congratulation Remarks to School of Computer Science Graduates, May 2019

Thank you, Dean Tom Mitchell, for the kind introduction. It is my honor to speak today, especially meaningful to me as I not only became an alum 27 years ago, but my daughter also graduated from CMU today!

Today I would like to share three things I knew when I graduated from CMU in 1992, and three things I have learned since then.

First, CMU's great reputation and faculty are world class. You obviously made the right choice, you stick with it and you made it and today you all earn your degrees, congratulations!

I also knew that computer science would make a great impact on the world, so all of you will start your career strong.

The third thing I learned was the great network of people at CMU, starting with my beloved advisor Prof. Raj Reddy who has always been there whenever I need help all throughout my career. On behalf of SCS students, I would like to give a big salute to all School of Computer Science faculty.

I would also like to share a little secret of myself today, in almost all of my professional career thus far, 25 out of 27 years, all my direct managers are either CMU alumni or faculties.

Three new things I have learned since graduating from CMU:

Marvel of the human mind

Having worked in AI for over 35 years now, I have learned to marvel more the brilliance of human intelligence. We must remember that every advance in artificial intelligence came from human ingenuity and invention.

Human's creativity to invent a new algorithm remains beyond the reach of computers. In addition, the ability to understand the world, to empathize with fellow human beings truly make us human.

I have learned how vital it is to learn about the liberal arts and maintain a human-centered view. The creativity found in liberal arts often complement to the innovation science and technology is seeking. Thus, we shall understand that in pursuit of computer science, one must also broaden one's knowledge and learn about economics, social science, psychology, philosophy, anthropology, and other liberal arts subjects.

Technology's impact

The second thing I have learned since graduating from CMU is to consider the impact of technology.

Although technology has made a great impact on the world, recently there has been a lot of discussion on the negative side of technology, including privacy invasion, the impact of fake news on our society, and the potential impact of AI on employment.

While we strive toward solving technical challenges and advancing the state of the art, we must engage other domain experts and society at large. As John Donne wrote in 1624, “No Man Is an Island, Entire of itself”. We live in a global community and we must carry out our profession with frequent and thoughtful reflection on the impact of our work. In the end, any technology created by us will reflect the values we hold.

Giving back

The third thing I have learned is the responsibility, the privilege, and most importantly, the joy of giving back. The old adage that is better to give than receive will be further reinforced the more you practice it.

Bill Gates has been a great role model in giving back to society. I am fortunate to get to know him and be inspired by him while working in the company he founded for 24 years. I am delighted to play a small role in constructing the Gates-Hillman center, now the home of the School of Computer Science. When you become successful and start giving to organizations you believe in, please include our beloved Alma Mater, CMU School of Computer Science!

Once again, congratulations, School of Computer Science class of 2019! Thank you!