Machine learning pioneers, including the ‘Godfather of AI’, receive the Nobel Prize in Physics

Geoffrey Hinton, one of the winners, left Google in 2023 for ethical reasons.

A Physics Nobel for two pioneers of Artificial Intelligence

The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to two researchers who revolutionized the field of artificial intelligence (AI). John Hopfield, professor emeritus at Princeton University, and Geoffrey Hinton, often called the “Godfather of AI,” were recognized for their fundamental discoveries and inventions that enabled machine learning through artificial neural networks .

Revolutionary discoveries

Hopfield conceptualized an associative memory capable of storing and reconstructing images and other types of data patterns. For his part, Hinton developed a method to automatically detect properties in data, which led to the ability to identify certain elements in images.

The Nobel committee praised their work, saying: “The breakthroughs of this year’s winners in physics are based on the foundations of physical science. They showed a whole new way for us to use computers to help and guide us through many of the challenges our society faces. »

Growing concerns

However, despite these advances, Hinton, a member of Google’s AI team, expressed concern about the potential impact of machine learning on society. He expressed concern that generative AI could cause a wave of disinformation, eliminate jobs and give rise to fully autonomous weapons.

Hinton acknowledged that machine learning and AI will likely improve health care, but warned: “She will surpass humans in intellectual capacity. We have no experience of what it is like to have things smarter than us,” he told reporters, according to the New York Times.

An unexpected honor

Despite his concerns, Hinton, a Turing Prize winner and professor of computer science at the University of Toronto, was “stunned” to learn that he had become a Nobel laureate. An honor which underlines the importance of this work for the world of science and technology.