They received a prestigious award John J HopfieldAmerican physicist, professor at Princeton University and Geoffrey E. HintonBritish computer scientist and professor at the University of Toronto, Canada, for their significant contributions to the foundations of modern machine learning.

What exactly did the scientists receive the award for?

• John Hopfield’s key contribution dates back to 1982, when he invented the relational neural network. This type of neural network is revolutionizing the way we process information by allowing the storage and retrieval of images and other data patterns.
• Jeffrey E. Ginton, considered one of the leading scientists in the field of artificial intelligence, has developed methods that allow machines to independently identify and extract important features from data, such as recognizing elements in images.

His work has not only shaped the field of artificial intelligence, but also had profound impacts on fields ranging from healthcare to autonomous systems.

In a statement from the Royal Swedish Academy, it was stated that the awardees were recognized for applying physics tools to solve problems at the heart of machine learning, a field that continues to shape technological progress in today’s world.

Legacy of the Nobel Prize in Physics

The Nobel Prize was established by Swedish chemist, engineer and inventor Alfred Nobel, known as the creator of dynamite. In his will written in 1895, Nobel dedicated most of his fortune to the creation of a series of awards for individuals or organizations that provide the greatest benefit to humanity.

Nobel’s motivation for creating the prize was influenced by his early obituary, in which he was called a “merchant of death” for the invention of dynamite. This reflection on the legacy he left behind led him to create prizes to recognize achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace promotion.

The Nobel Prize in Physics was first awarded in 1901. It honored some of history’s greatest scientists at the time, including Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Max Planck and Niels Bohr.

Over the years, the prize has recognized transformative research in quantum mechanics, nuclear physics, astrophysics and other sciences.