Did you know? The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics goes to two true pioneers of AI – John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton. Their work on neural networks has laid the foundation for modern AI and made technologies such as machine learning and chatbots possible in the first place.
Particularly exciting: Geoffrey Hinton, often called the “Godfather of AI,” now views his creation with mixed feelings. With his research, he has flung the door wide open to the AI revolution, but at the same time he warns of the risks. “We have no experience of what it is like when things are more intelligent than us,” he emphasizes. Hinton sees how AI systems can solve complex problems today, but also the possibility that they will one day exceed human control.
A look back: The foundations of today’s AI
In the 1980s, Hopfield and Hinton developed the foundations of neural networks and the Boltzmann machine, inspired by the structure of the human brain. This technology has transformed healthcare, materials research and science – and it is fascinating that this early work still forms the core of many modern AI applications.
Progress or risk?
The fact is: These technologies open up incredible opportunities, but the responsibility to use them safely and ethically is growing steadily. Hinton left his job at Google Brain to be able to speak freely about these potential dangers. The developments are exciting, but the question remains: How will AI change our lives – for the better or with unexpected risks? The world is watching with anticipation to see how we get these technologies under control.
