Five Nobel Laureates meet AI leaders in Singapore summit

Five Nobel Laureates joined about 500 participants in Singapore for a two-day summit on science in the age of artificial intelligence, with discussions at NTU, SMU, Conrad Singapore Orchard and Gardens by the Bay. The program paired research talks with capital, public engagement and a free portrait exhibition that ran through 11 October.

Why it matters: - The summit brought together Nobel Laureates, AI leaders, policymakers and investors to connect scientific discovery with long-term capital and public engagement. - The event highlighted how artificial intelligence is changing research, health, cities and work. - The accompanying public exhibition aimed to make Nobel science more accessible to younger audiences and the wider public.

What happened: - Nobel Heroes & AI4SCI Summit Singapore 2026 took place on 5–6 October in Singapore. - Around 500 participants attended the two-day summit. - The program included seven Nobel Laureate roundtables and dialogues. - Sessions were held at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Management University, Conrad Singapore Orchard and Gardens by the Bay. - The summit was jointly organised by Laureates City Holdings Limited and Symbiosis Science, hosted by Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, and supported by Advaita Lab and HER SYMBIOSIS.

The details: - The participating Nobel Laureates were Omar M. Yaghi, Fred Ramsdell, Benjamin List, Sir Konstantin Novoselov and Sir Christopher A. Pissarides. - Yaghi won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. - Ramsdell won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. - List won the 2021 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. - Novoselov won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics. - Pissarides won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. - Other attendees included Heng Swee Keat, Nikolaus Turner, H.E. Alex Tilman, H.E. Tadeusz Chomicki and Dr Choo Pei Ling. - Aurelia Frick, Peter Badge, Professor Christian Wolfrum and Professor Alan Chan also joined the summit. - The Gala Dinner on 5 October at Conrad Singapore Orchard drew more than 150 guests from government, business and academia, including all five Nobel Laureates. - Guests at the dinner included Professor Patrick Tan, Steven Hoi, Professor Qiang Yang, Arthur Hayes, Tan Yinglan, Akasha Zhu and representatives from CapitaLand, OUE, J.P. Morgan Private Bank and family offices. - Michael Ong welcomed guests at the dinner alongside Kamala Zhu, followed by opening remarks from Nikolaus Turner. - Kamala Zhu said great science needs time, trust and early support, and said future conversations will extend to Hong Kong, the United States, the United Arab Emirates and other innovation hubs. - Turner presented commemorative gifts to Kamala Zhu and Akasha Zhu during the dinner. - Across the NTU and SMU sessions, the Laureates discussed AI’s implications for scientific discovery, health and longevity, sustainable cities and the future of work. - Yaghi described how AI is accelerating materials research. - List and Novoselov stressed human curiosity, original thinking and the ability to ask the right questions. - Ramsdell cautioned about AI-generated information. - Pissarides examined AI’s practical value and its long-term effects on employment and the economy. - At the 5 October AI for Science forum, Kamala Zhu delivered opening remarks, Advaita Lab shared emerging AI research and HER SYMBIOSIS convened a women’s leadership roundtable. - Three young researchers were recognized among the inaugural AI4SCI Rising Stars 100, the first cohort of the Rising Minds — AI4SCI Young Talent Program. - At SMU on 6 October, Professor Alan Chan and Nikolaus Turner gave remarks, and Dr Cheong Wei Yang delivered a keynote on strategic research partnerships. - Three Nobel Laureate dialogues linked scientific research with long-term challenges in work, longevity and urban life. - The Nobel Laureates Portrait Exhibition Singapore 2026 opened at Gardens by the Bay on 6 October. - The exhibition featured Peter Badge’s portraits of 35 Nobel Laureates. - The show combined outdoor displays and digital interactive experiences, stayed open until 11 October and was free to visit. - Turner, Kamala Zhu, Dr Choo Pei Ling and Peter Badge gave opening remarks at the exhibition. - Nobel Laureates and guests including H.E. Alex Tilman attended the opening ceremony. - The exhibition focused on the people behind scientific achievements and invited younger audiences to connect with discovery through personal stories. - More information is available in the company’s announcement.

Between the lines: - The summit positioned AI not as a standalone tool but as part of a wider ecosystem that includes science, capital and institutional support. - The presence of diplomats, investors, university leaders and Nobel Laureates suggests the organizers wanted the event to influence both research culture and funding networks. - The public exhibition extended the summit’s reach beyond elite audiences and into civic space.

What's next: - Laureates City and Symbiosis Science plan to keep working with academic institutions, technology companies and partners on science, AI, industry and capital exchange. - The Masters of Abstraction & AI4SCI Summit will be held in Hong Kong. - The Hong Kong event will bring together scientists, technology leaders and innovators to explore discovery in the age of AI.