The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to two AI pioneers. Since we already use voice assistants or chatbots, we can thank them! Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield transformed machine learning with their artificial neural networks. But that’s not all! One of them warns of what AI could become…
In 2024, two AI pioneers: Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield win the Nobel Prize in physics. These researchers laid the foundations for modern AI with their work on artificial neural networks. These systems mimic the human brain to store and process information. What makes this award even more fascinating? Hinton, often called “the godfather of AI”, has since left Google to be able to warn of the dangers of this technology.
Who are these two AI pioneers?
If you’ve ever heard of neural networks, know that they are actually inspired directly by the human brain! So, two geniuses, John Hopfield et Geoffrey Hintonlooked at how our brains store and retrieve memories. Their research made it possible to create systems capable learn from data. So they created a new network, called the Boltzmann machine, which can remember images or information. It’s like when we remember a song we heard somewhere, for example.
Geoffrey Hinton, 76 ansis nicknamed “ the godfather of AI » for a simple reason. Apparently, it played a big role in the development of multi-layer neural networks. His AI work has made possible tools that we use every day. In particular, facial recognition, automatic translation and, of course, chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude.
This researcher left Google last year to warn about dangers of AI. And yes, he thinks machines could one day surpass humans! At a press conference. He even declared that “ we also have to worry about a number of possible adverse consequences, particularly the threat of these things spiraling out of control ».
John Hopfieldhe is 91 years old and built, in 1982, “ an associative memory that can store and reconstruct images and other types of patterns in data.” His idea was to “independently discover properties in data “. So what he did was give computers the ability to function much like our brains. It is this kind of technology that paved the way for the large artificial neural networks used today.
Why did these researchers win a Nobel Prize?
You are probably wondering why we are talking about them today? Well, it’s simple! Their discoveries have transformed the world so much. This is why they have just won a huge prize of 11 million Swedish crowns (or approximately £810,000). This prize, announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, rewards “ the fundamental discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks ».
According to Ellen Moonspresident of the Nobel committee, “ These artificial neural networks have been used to advance research in fields as diverse as particle physics, materials science, and astrophysics. They are also part of our daily lives, for example in facial recognition and language translation. »
Does AI really deserve a Nobel Prize in Physics?
According to Michael Wooldridgea computer expert from Oxford, “ this Nobel Prize is an indicator of the extent of the transformation of science by artificial intelligence “. He explains that “ The success of neural networks this century has made it possible to analyze data in ways that were unimaginable at the turn of the century. No area of science has been left unscathed by artificial intelligence: we are at a remarkable moment in scientific history, and it is wonderful to see the academy recognizing this. »
On the other hand, the professor Wendy Hallan AI specialist at the University of Southampton, disagrees. She said she was a little surprised that work in AI won this award. Especially since “ there is no Nobel Prize for computer science “. According to her, “ It is clear that artificial neural networks are having a profound impact on physics research, but is it fair to say that they are themselves the result of physics research? »
A Nobel Prize awarded to AI, is this a surprise or obvious in your opinion? Express yourself in the comments!
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