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STOCKHOLM — A pair of artificial intelligence scientists won the Nobel Prize for their early work on the technology.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics to Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield “for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks,” according to the academy today.
Hinton and Hopfield used tools from physics to "develop methods that are the foundation of today’s powerful machine learning."
Both AI scientists have conducted "important work" with artificial neural networks since the 1980s.
Hopfield created an associative memory that can store and reconstruct images and other types of patterns in data.
Hinton built on Hopfield's work and invented a method that can autonomously find properties in data and perform tasks, such as identifying specific elements in pictures.
“The laureates' work has already been of the greatest benefit," said Ellen Moons, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics. "In physics, we use artificial neural networks in a vast range of areas, such as developing new materials with specific properties.”
Hinton, 76, often referred to as the "godfather" of AI, is a citizen of Canada and the U.K. and works at the University of Toronto, according to the AP. Previously, Hinton left a position with Google to speak about the possible dangers of AI.
“I am worried that the overall consequence of this might be systems more intelligent than us that eventually take control,” said Hinton, AP reports.
Hopfield, 91, is an American and works at Princeton, according to the AP.
“We have no experience of what it’s like to have things smarter than us. And it’s going to be wonderful in many respects,” said Hopfield, AP reports.
“But we also have to worry about a number of possible bad consequences, particularly the threat of these things getting out of control.”
The artificial neural networks behind machine learning were inspired by the structure of the brain, according the academy.
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"The brain’s neurons are represented by nodes that have different values," the academy says. "These nodes influence each other through connections that can be likened to synapses and which can be made stronger or weaker. The network is trained, for example, by developing stronger connections between nodes with simultaneously high values."
The winners will split 11 million Swedish kronor or about $1 million total.
