Scientists Sound AI Alarm After Winning Physics Nobel
Pioneering Work on Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
British-Canadian Geoffrey Hinton and American John Hopfield won the Nobel physics prize on Tuesday for their pioneering work on the foundations of artificial intelligence. However, both laureates sounded the alarm over the technology they helped bring to life.
Raise Concerns over AI
The pair’s research on neural networks in the 1980s paved the way for today’s deep-learning systems that promise to revolutionize society but have also raised apocalyptic fears. Hinton, known as “the Godfather of AI”, raised eyebrows in 2023 when he quit his job at Google to warn of the “profound risks to society and humanity” of the technology.
Hinton’s Warning
Hinton, 76, told reporters after the announcement, “In the same circumstances, I would do the same again, but I am worried that the overall consequence of this might be systems more intelligent than us that eventually take control.” He also warned in March last year that AI could wipe out humanity, saying, “It’s not inconceivable.”
Awarded for Foundational Discoveries
The pair were honored “for foundational discoveries and inventions that enable machine learning with artificial neural networks,” the jury said. Ellen Moons, chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics, noted that these tools have become part of our daily lives, including in facial recognition and language translation.
Responsible Use of AI
While lauding the potential of AI, Moons emphasized the need for responsible use of the technology, saying, “Humans carry the responsibility for using this new technology in a safe and ethical way.”
Concerns over Unintended Consequences
Hopfield, a professor emeritus at Princeton, joined Hinton in calling for a deeper understanding of modern AI systems to prevent them from spiraling out of control. He described recent advances in AI as “very unnerving,” saying, “You don’t know that the collective properties you began with are actually the collective properties with all the interactions present, and you don’t therefore know whether some spontaneous but unwanted thing is lying hidden in the works.”
Hinton’s Prediction
Hinton predicted that AI will have a huge influence, saying, “It will be comparable with the industrial revolution. But instead of exceeding people in physical strength, it’s going to exceed people in intellectual ability.”
International Recognition
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hailed Hinton’s accomplishment, saying, “Canada is at the forefront of AI technology thanks to trailblazers like Dr. Hinton.” The Nobel Prize in Physics is the second Nobel of the season, following the Medicine Prize on Monday.
Nobel Season
The physics prize will be followed by the chemistry prize on Wednesday, with the highly watched literature and peace prizes to be announced on Thursday and Friday respectively. The economics prize wraps up the 2024 Nobel season on October 14.
Conclusion
The Nobel Prize in Physics recognizes the pioneering work of Hinton and Hopfield on the foundations of artificial intelligence. While AI holds tremendous potential, both laureates sounded the alarm over the technology’s unintended consequences and the need for responsible use.
FAQs
* What did Hinton and Hopfield win the Nobel Prize for?
They won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their pioneering work on the foundations of artificial intelligence.
* What did Hinton warn about AI?
Hinton warned about the “profound risks to society and humanity” of AI and said it’s not inconceivable that AI could wipe out humanity.
* What is the significance of the Nobel Prize in Physics?
The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded to recognize outstanding contributions to the field of physics, honoring those who have, in the words of prize creator and scientist Alfred Nobel, “conferred the greatest benefit on humankind”.