The third symposium on “Interdisciplinary Studies in Artificial Intelligence” was held on Sunday, February 14, 2021, hosted by Semnan University and in partnership with Iran University Press, the Iranian Artificial Intelligence Association, the National Foundation for Elites, and the Commission of Scientific Associations. This scientific event, attended by professors, researchers, and experts in the field of artificial intelligence and related sciences, examined the scientific, social, economic, and futurological dimensions of this technology.
Artificial Intelligence: A National Necessity and a Historical Task
During the opening ceremony, Dr. Seifollah Saad al-Din, President of Semnan University, emphasized that artificial intelligence is no longer an option, and considered this field a national, strategic necessity, and a historical task for the country’s scientific system. He expressed hope that this symposium would pave the way for scientific networking, the formation of national research alliances, the development of new and bold ideas at the frontiers of knowledge, and the development of a strategic document for collective action to develop artificial intelligence in the service of civilization.
Continuing, Dr. Amir Masoud Shahramnia, head of Iran University Press, referring to the interdisciplinary nature of artificial intelligence, stated: “Today, various parts of human knowledge have been affected by artificial intelligence, and this field can be considered as the gateway and linker of contemporary sciences.” Dr. Reza Kaypour, head of the Elite Foundation of Semnan Province, also mentioned the “Acceleration Project” as one of the Elite Foundation’s support programs that welcomes interdisciplinary research in the field of artificial intelligence.
Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies
The first scientific session of the symposium entitled “Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies” was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Ahmad Shakeri, Research Advisor of the University Publishing Center and Scientific Secretary of the symposium. In this session, Dr. Mohammad Hadi Zahedi, Headof the Iranian Artificial Intelligence Association and a member of the faculty of Khajeh Nasir al-Din Toosi University of Technology, in his speech entitled “Financing Models in Technology,” referred to the need to diversify financing models in the field of artificial intelligence. Emphasizing that artificial intelligence, as a profound and transformative technology, requires stage-oriented models that are appropriate to the ecosystem of each country, he stated that the implementation of these models in Iran requires localization with regard to national and international considerations.
According to him, despite challenges such as sanctions, limited access to capital, and processing infrastructure, Iran has significant potential. Zahedi proposed proposals such as establishing a national fund for the development of artificial intelligence, strengthening public-private venture funds, developing crowdfunding and Islamic financial mechanisms, tax incentives, and international cooperation as components of a desirable financing model.
In the continuation of this meeting, Dr. Abdulhamid Alizadeh, a member of the faculty of Al-Zahra University , in his speech titled “Horizons of Academic Fields: From Yesterday to Tomorrow” referred to the redrawing of the scientific map of the world and said: Rapid scientific and technological developments have transformed the structure of higher education and the needs of the labor market, and the formation of emerging and interdisciplinary fields determines the future of the global economy and research.
He considered achieving scientific authority to be dependent on absorbing and localizing current knowledge through international interactions and utilizing the capacity of young elites in fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, biotechnology, quantum sciences, and new technologies.
Redefining Humans, Science, and Society in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
The second session of the symposium was held under the theme of “Artificial Intelligence and the Redefining of Humanity, Science, and Society” and was chaired by Dr. Majid Qolheki, a faculty member of Semnan University. In this session, Dr. Amin Motavalian, a faculty member of the Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies, in his speech titled “Homunculi and the Historical Natural-Artificial Conflict,” addressed topics such as recreating human functions, moving from imitating nature to improving it, and the challenge of ahistoricity in the face of new technologies. Then, Dr. Samad Nejad-ebrahimi, Director General of the Research Policy and Planning Office of the Ministry of Science and a faculty member of Shahid Beheshti University, explained “Opportunities and Challenges of Basic Science Education and Research in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Next, Dr. Zahra Ojaq, a member of the faculty of the Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies, presented the results of her field research in a speech titled “Public Understanding of Artificial Intelligence in Iranian Society” and said: “The widespread presence of artificial intelligence in everyday life and the media does not necessarily mean a correct public understanding of this technology. According to her, while artificial intelligence is becoming a part of contemporary hegemonic culture, the level of public literacy about it remains low.”
Economy, Future Life and Future Prospects
The final session of the symposium entitled “Artificial Intelligence, Economics, Future Life and Future Prospects” was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Farzin Yaghmaei, a member of the faculty of Semnan University. In this session, Dr. Marjan Goodarzi, a member of the faculty of the Institute of Communications and Information Technology, introduced artificial intelligence as a structural shock in the economy that can transform the logic of decision-making and resource allocation. Referring to the theoretical framework of “forecasting as an economic input,” he emphasized that reducing the cost of forecasting through artificial intelligence will lead to a reorganization of the economic decision-making system, and in the meantime, human judgment and ethical considerations will gain increasing importance. He also emphasized the interdisciplinary nature of artificial intelligence economics and its role in realizing a sustainable economy.
In his speech titled “Artificial Intelligence in Shaping Future Life,” Dr. Kourosh Kiani, a faculty member at Semnan University, explained different levels of artificial intelligence from machine learning to generative models, and proposed ideas such as a digital version of humans and the transfer of human knowledge and experience to intelligent systems. In the last speech, Dr. Alireza Naeimi Seddigh, a faculty member at Semnan University, stated on the topic of “Artificial Intelligence in 2026: Recent Achievements and Future Prospects,” that artificial intelligence has passed the initial excitement stage and entered a period of maturity. According to him, 2026 will be the year of consolidation, evaluation, and deeper integration of artificial intelligence in organizations, industry, and daily life
