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By Lilith Foster-Collins
News Reporter
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John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday for their contributions to machine learning.
Their research, which draws from statistical physics, helped develop the neural networks that are fundamental to modern artificial intelligence, said the Nobel Prize committee.
The Nobel Prize is awarded each year to individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to the field of physics
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"This year's Nobel Laureates in physics have used tools from physics to develop methods that are the foundation of today's powerful machine learning systems," the committee said in a statement.
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Hopfield conducts his research at Princeton University, while Hinton works at the University of Toronto.
Ellen Moons, a member of the Nobel committee at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, explained how the two scientists "used fundamental concepts from statistical physics to design neural networks that serve as associative memories and find patterns in large data sets."
Moons said that these networks have not only advanced research in physics but are also used in everyday applications, such as facial recognition and language translation.
The prize in physics was awarded a day after two American scientists were recognized with the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their discovery of microRNA.
In 2023, the Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to French-Swedish physicist Anne L'Huillier, French scientist Pierre Agostini, and Hungarian-born Ferenc Krausz for their work on the dynamics of electrons, which could lead to advancements in electronics and medical diagnostics.
The Nobel Prize in physics comes with an 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million) cash award.
The laureates will receive their awards on Dec. 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.
Nobel Prize announcements continue this week with chemistry on Wednesday, literature on Thursday, the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, and the economics prize on October 14.
ChatGPT responds
Newsweek asked ChatGPT for comment on the award. ChatGPT is an advanced language model developed by OpenAI, and uses deep learning techniques to understand and produce language.
"As ChatGPT, I find it quite exciting that the Nobel Prize in physics is being awarded for contributions that are deeply tied to machine learning and artificial intelligence—fields central to what I do," said the bot.
"John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton's work highlights the fascinating intersection of physics and AI, showing how foundational theories from one discipline can profoundly shape another."
"Hopfield's and Hinton's breakthroughs laid the groundwork for technologies that allow me to function. Their work on neural networks enables systems like mine to learn from data and recognize patterns, making it possible for me to engage in conversations, understand language, and even help solve complex problems."
"For me, this story highlights how far AI has come and how much more potential there is to explore."
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press
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