洪小文博士在卡內基·梅隆大學2019畢業典禮上的演講

編者按：近日，微軟全球資深副總裁、微軟亞太研發集團主席兼微軟亞洲研究院院長洪小文博士回到母校——卡內基·梅隆大學，給計算機科學學院2019屆畢業生們分享了自己有關人類智慧、科技影響、社會責任等心得。

感謝Tom Mitchell院長對我的介紹。我今天很榮幸回到母校。27年前我從這裏畢業，今天，我的女兒也從這裏畢業了！

在這裏，我想分享我1992年從卡內基·梅隆大學畢業時所知曉的三件事以及之後領悟到的三件事。

首先，卡內基·梅隆大學擁有世界級的聲譽。當初你們的選擇是正確的！你們堅持夢想，如今學業有成，恭喜你們！

第二，計算機科學會對世界帶來重要的影響。因此你們今後的職業發展一定會前途無量。

第三，在卡內基·梅隆大學會結識很多了不起的人。這其中就有我尊敬的導師Raj Reddy教授，在我求學以及今後的職業生涯中給予了我莫大的支持與幫助。在此我謹代表計算機科學學院的學生們，向所有老師致以最誠摯的敬意。

另外，告訴大家一個秘密，在我27年的職業生涯中，其中25年我的直接領導都是卡內基·梅隆大學的校友或是老師。

我畢業後領悟到的三件事：

人類智慧

我已與AI結緣有超過35年，這也讓我愈加認識到人類智慧的偉大。我們必須謹記，每一項人工智能技術的進步，都是來自人類的創造和發明。

人類發明新算法所體現的創造力，是計算機遠不能及的。認識世界的能力，擁有同理心，是我們作為人類的特質。

因此，我深刻地認識到學習人文科學，堅持以人為本的重要。人文科學能夠為科學技術創新提供借鑒。因此，在探索計算機科學發展的同時，我們必須也要拓寬對人文科學的認識，學習掌握有關經濟、社會科學、心理學、哲學、人類學的知識。

科技影響

我畢業後第二個領悟到的是科技的影響力。

科技推動世界進步的同時，人們對於科技的負麵影響也有很多討論，例如隱私侵犯、假新聞如何影響社會，以及人工智能在多大程度上會取代人類的工作。

在不斷努力解決技術挑戰和推動技術進步的同時，我們必須與其他領域的專家以及社會各界緊密合作。正如約翰·鄧恩（John Donne）1624年寫道：“沒有人是一座孤島。”我們生活在一個地球村中，因此必須對我們的工作可能帶來的影響進行不斷和深入地論證。最終，我們所創造的每一項技術，都將反映著我們的價值觀。

回饋社會

我領悟的第三件事是：責任，更重要的是，給予過程中獲得快樂。“施比受更有福。”當我們越多給予的時候，就越能體會這一句話的內涵。

比爾·蓋茨就是這樣一位楷模。我很幸運與他相識，並在過去24年，在他創立的公司工作期間受到他很多的啟迪。我很榮幸能為卡內基·梅隆大學計算機科研學院蓋茨·希爾曼中心（Gates-Hillman Center）的建立貢獻綿薄之力。並希望當你有一天成功的時候，也能夠不忘給予，回饋社會。而這其中，也包括我們的母校。

再次祝賀計算機科學學院2019屆畢業生！謝謝大家！

演講原文：

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!