The perfect couple makes history together.

On the afternoon of October 8th, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm announced the winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics.

Two scientists from the United States and Canada have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics. (Source: Nobel Prize)

Two scientists, John Joseph Hopfield (American, working at Princeton University, New Jersey, USA) and Geoffrey Everest Hinton (Canadian of British origin, working at the University of Toronto, Canada), became co-recipients of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for their fundamental discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning using artificial neural networks.

These two scientists, who began collaborating in 1980, used physical tools to find patterns in information, building methods that laid the foundation for today's powerful machine learning. Machine learning, based on artificial neural networks, is revolutionizing science, engineering, and everyday life.

According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, machine learning has long played a crucial role in research, including the classification and analysis of large volumes of data.

The founders...

American scientist Joseph Hopfield, 91 years old, is widely known for his research on artificial neural networks in 1982. (Source: Princeton University)

Scientist Joseph Hopfield (91 years old), widely known for his research on artificial neural networks in 1982, later known as Hopfield's network, was surprised to receive "a pile of letters" upon returning home on October 8th after getting vaccinated with his wife. He was also "heartened" by the news of his Nobel Prize.

Scientist Geoffrey Everest Hinton (77 years old) is famous for his research on artificial neural networks and the development of the Boltzmann machine – a powerful tool that allows for the identification of features in data, earning him the nickname "Godfather of AI" or "AI godfather".

Gemini, the AI ​​chatbot developed by Google, assessed Hinton as follows: "He is considered one of the most important figures in AI history – a visionary leader who helped shape the future of AI."

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics is truly well-deserved because the contributions of this work "have fundamentally changed the world ."

Notably, Hinton was born and raised in a scientific environment, with his family members—his great-grandfather, father, and cousins—all being respected scholars and scientists. His mother even reminded him, "Become a scholar or be a failure!"

Mr. Hinton received news of the award via a phone call from "people with a thick Swedish accent" while he was in a California hotel with his wife, where there was no internet connection, the phone connection was unreliable, and he was preparing to undergo an MRI scan to assess his health.

He even wondered if it was a scam call.

...fundamentally changing the world

Scientists have high praise for this year's Nobel Prize in Physics. Ellen Moons, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, stated: “The work of these two scientists has opened up new applications in physics, particularly in the development of new materials with desirable properties using artificial neural networks.”

Princeton University President Christopher L. Eisgrube, where Hopfield worked, stated: “John Hopfield’s outstanding scientific career transcended the boundaries of conventional disciplines, allowing him to make lasting contributions to physics, chemistry, neuroscience, and molecular biology.”

L. Eisgrube assessed the recently honored groundbreaking research as "a beautiful illustration of the power of curiosity to drive research to expand the boundaries of knowledge and create new tools to solve some of the world's deepest challenges."

Meanwhile, Mala Murthy, Director of the Princeton Neuroscience Institute at Princeton University, said: “John Hopfield was a founding figure in the creation of neuroscience at Princeton. Hopfield networks are inspired by the brain and allow machines to store memories and recall them with only partial information.”

According to her, Hopfield's work " has paved the way for a deep learning revolution, which has now impacted almost every aspect of society."

Bonnie Bassler, chair of the Department of Molecular Biology at Princeton University, believes that the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics is truly deserved because the contributions of this work "have fundamentally changed the world," with everyday applications such as smartphones and self-driving cars.

Concerns over the rise of AI

Canadian scientist Geoffrey Everest Hinton, also known as the 'godfather of AI'. (Source: The New York Times)

When asked about the potential of the technology he helped develop, Canadian scientist Geoffrey Everest Hinton said, "AI will have a huge impact."

He clarified: "It could be compared to the Industrial Revolution. But instead of surpassing humans physically, it will surpass them intellectually. We have no experience of what will happen when there are things smarter than humans."

Predicting that AI could revolutionize fields like healthcare, leading to a significant increase in productivity, he also warned of "the potential negative consequences, especially the risk of it getting out of control," and that it might eventually "take control."

According to the "godfather of AI," the world is currently at a historical crossroads, and in the next few years, "we need to find a way to deal with that threat," in terms of how to control AI.

Since 1901, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded 117 Nobel Prizes in Physics. The youngest recipient of this prestigious award was the Australian scientist William Lawrence Bragg (in 1915), at the age of 25. The oldest recipient was the American scientist Arthur Ashkin (in 2018) at the age of 96.

The Nobel Prize in Physics is the second award to be announced in the 2024 season.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/bo-gia-ai-va-ong-trum-mang-hopfield-vua-tro-thanh-chu-nhan-giai-nobel-vat-ly-2024-cap-doi-hoan-hao-dua-nhau-vao-lich-su-289366.html