[Heart of Innovation, Corporate Research Labs ④] "Studying the Sun with AI... Forging Our Own Path in Research"

Interview with Campbell Watson, IBM Researcher
Atmospheric Scientist Leads AI for Solar Research
"We Aim to Envision the Big Picture of AI for Science"

Campbell Watson, an IBM researcher, is being interviewed by Asia Economy at the IBM Watson Research Center. Paek Jongmin, Tech Specialist

Campbell Watson, a researcher at the IBM Watson Research Center, introduced himself as an "artificial intelligence (AI) expert." He recently gained attention for developing the Surya Heliophysics Foundational Model, an AI model for solar analysis, in collaboration with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). At first, one might expect him to be a typical AI engineer, but his answers were unexpected.

"Originally, I studied atmospheric science. Many of my colleagues majored in particle physics or high-energy physics. It's truly enjoyable to see how pieces of knowledge from different fields come together for a single subject-namely, the Sun."

Surya, developed through a partnership between NASA, IBM, and others, utilizes AI technology to analyze vast amounts of solar data. This helps scientists better understand solar eruptions and predict space weather that could threaten satellites, power grids, and communication systems. The model provides early warnings for satellite operators and enables scientists to forecast the impact of the Sun's ultraviolet output on Earth's upper atmosphere.

When asked about the autonomy to conduct AI research at IBM, a company that began as a hardware manufacturer, Watson replied, "We forge our own path in research." Because IBM and NASA create research roadmaps together, they do not simply follow predetermined guidelines. Instead, they pioneer new directions with confidence in achieving the best results, drawing on extensive experience and history.

Illustration of the Sun image from the Solar Dynamics Observatory used in the Surya training. NASA.

Watson said, "In the long term, we envision a big picture of 'AI for science.' The goal is to create AI models that can be applied to dynamic systems, such as hurricane formation, solar coronal mass ejections, and the airflow around racing cars. In the short term, however, we focus on how the technology we've developed can have the greatest immediate impact. For example, improving solar wind forecasts that could affect spacecraft in collaboration with NASA is a short-term objective."

He expressed pride in the partnership, saying, "Working with NASA is an incredible opportunity for us." Such collaboration is possible because of IBM's steadfast philosophy of pursuing "open science" and "open-source AI." NASA shares these same policies, allowing for natural cooperation without any constraints on technological advancement.

When asked if he was a descendant of IBM's founder, he laughed and said he was not, despite sharing the same surname. The research center is also named in honor of the founder. While he often encounters this misunderstanding, he expressed strong pride in sharing the Watson name with the institute.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.