The Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Geoffrey Hinton and John Hopfield for their groundbreaking contributions to machine learning.
British-Canadian Professor Geoffrey Hinton, often called the “Godfather of AI,” expressed his astonishment at the honor, saying, “I’m flabbergasted. I had no idea this would happen.” Hinton, who resigned from Google in 2023, has been vocal about the risks posed by machines potentially surpassing human intelligence.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the award during a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden.
American Professor John Hopfield is a professor at Princeton University, while Hinton holds a professorship at the University of Toronto in Canada. Their work on machine learning—a core element of artificial intelligence—has shaped technologies we use daily, from internet searches to photo editing on smartphones.
The Academy highlighted several critical applications of their research, including advancements in climate modeling, solar cell development, and medical image analysis. Hinton’s pioneering work on neural networks laid the foundation for modern AI systems like ChatGPT. Neural networks mimic the human brain’s learning process, allowing AI to improve through experience, a technique known as deep learning.
While Hinton described his work on artificial neural networks as revolutionary, he also expressed concern about the future. He acknowledged he would pursue the same research again, but worries about the possibility of creating systems more intelligent than humans, which might one day take control.
The prize, worth 11 million Swedish kronor (£810,000), will be shared between the two laureates.
When Professor Hinton resigned from Google last year, he told the BBC that some of the dangers posed by AI chatbots were “quite scary.” He also mentioned that his age factored into his decision to leave the tech company.
In an interview with BBC Newsnight earlier this year, Hinton warned that the UK government would likely need to introduce a universal basic income to address the inequality created by AI. He expressed deep concern about AI potentially displacing many routine jobs, saying he was “very worried about AI taking lots of mundane jobs.”
While he acknowledged that AI would boost productivity and create wealth, he cautioned that this wealth would likely benefit the rich, leaving behind those whose jobs were lost—a situation he believes could have harmful consequences for society.
Hinton also highlighted concerns over the military use of AI, noting that governments appeared unwilling to limit its development. He warned that the rapid pace of AI advancements could lead tech companies to prioritize speed over safety.
In the same interview, he speculated that within five to 20 years, there’s about a 50% chance society will have to face the challenge of AI attempting to take control.
