Syllabus : GS 3/Science and Tech
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John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics for their foundational contributions to machine learning using artificial neural networks (ANNs).
- Artificial neural networks (ANNs), which process data through interconnected nodes, have become well-known due to the popularity of AI apps like ChatGPT.
| Nobel Prize in Physics – Alfred Nobel mentioned physics first in his 1895 will, reflecting its high status at the time. – In the late 19th century, physics was considered the foremost science, a view Nobel likely shared given his own research ties to physics. – The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm, Sweden. |
John Hopfield’s Contribution:
- John Hopfield, a professor at Princeton University, developed the Hopfield network, a type of recurrent neural network that processes information based on Hebbian learning.
- It enables the storage and reconstruction of images and patterns.
- The Hopfield network is inspired by the physics of magnetic atoms, with neurons mimicking atoms’ energy-minimizing behavior to complete patterns or denoise images.
- His 1982 paper laid the foundation for using statistical physics in modeling neural circuits.
- The Hopfield network finds patterns by lowering its overall energy, comparing distorted or incomplete input to saved patterns.
Geoffrey Hinton’s Contribution:
- Geoffrey Hinton, a professor at the University of Toronto, adapted the Boltzmann machine for cognitive tasks and created the restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM).
- It uses statistical physics to recognize features in data and learns by recognizing patterns and generating new examples of the data on which it was trained, playing a significant role in machine learning’s current growth
- His work led to the development of deep learning ANNs, with layers of neurons capable of complex tasks.
Applications
- The work of Hopfield and Hinton have significantly advanced the field of machine learning, with widespread applications, including material development.
- Their innovations have enabled advancements in various fields including physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, finance, and health.
Concerns Around AI
- Hinton raised concerns about AI, particularly how tools like ChatGPT could flood the internet with false information, making it difficult for people to discern truth. He also highlighted worries about AI taking human jobs.
| Do you know ? – In 2023, the prize went to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier for their contributions to attophysics. – The 2024 Physiology/Medicine prize was awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA. |
Source: IE
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