Artificial Intelligence Pioneers Win Nobel Prize in Physics
Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield, two pioneers in the field of artificial intelligence, have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for their groundbreaking work in machine learning using artificial neural networks. The two laureates will share the 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately7.45 million yuan) prize.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the award on October 8th, citing Hinton and Hopfield’s pioneering discoveries and inventions in the use of artificial neural networks for machine learning.
The Nobel Committee emphasized the profound impact of the laureates’ work: This year’s Physics Prize honors breakthroughs built on the foundations ofphysical science. They have shown us a completely new way to utilize computers to help and guide us in tackling many of the challenges facing society.
The committee highlighted the crucial role of machine learning in various scientific fields, including the classification and analysisof vast datasets. John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton, using tools from physics, constructed methods that helped lay the foundation for today’s powerful machine learning. Machine learning based on artificial neural networks is now revolutionizing science, engineering, and everyday life.
Geoffrey Hinton, born in 1947 inWimbledon, England, is the great-great-grandson of logician George Boole, whose work in Boolean algebra forms the basis of modern computer science. Hinton’s research focuses on deep learning, a powerful form of machine learning that utilizes artificial neural networks with multiple layers. His work has been instrumental in the development ofimage recognition, natural language processing, and other AI applications.
John Hopfield, a renowned physicist and neuroscientist, is known for his contributions to the understanding of neural networks. In 1982, he proposed the Hopfield network, a type of recurrent neural network that can store and retrieve informationbased on patterns. This model has significantly influenced the development of artificial intelligence and has found applications in areas such as pattern recognition, optimization, and memory.
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics acknowledges the transformative power of artificial intelligence and the fundamental contributions of Hinton and Hopfield in shaping this field. Their work hasnot only revolutionized scientific research but has also begun to impact our daily lives in profound ways.
References:
- Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences: [Link to official press release]
- The Nobel Prize: [Link to official website]
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