Editor's Note: What can mathematics reveal about the world, and how is AI changing the way we pursue that knowledge? In this edition of Leaders Talk, CMG’s Zou Yun sits down with Fields medalist Martin Hairer, a leading mathematician and foreign member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, during the International Congress of Basic Science in Beijing. Hairer explores the importance of basic science and looks at how mathematical intuition can lead to major breakthroughs. The conversation also delves into the rapid development of AI and what remains uniquely important about human mathematical thinking. Hairer also shares his observations on China's long-term commitment to science, and the importance of international collaboration across disciplines and borders.