The Nobel Prize in Physics for 2024 has been awarded to John Hopfield from Princeton University, USA, and Geoffrey Hinton from the University of Toronto, Canada, for their research in the fields of machine learning and neural networks, as reported by the Nobel Committee's press service.
The committee's announcement states that both laureates utilized physical tools to develop methods that form the foundation of modern powerful machine learning.
Hopfield created "associative memory," capable of storing and reproducing images and other types of data. Hinton, in turn, developed a method that autonomously identifies properties in data, thereby recognizing specific elements in images.
Hinton applied Hopfield's network to create a new network utilizing the "Boltzmann machine" method, which enables the neural network to learn to recognize specific elements in particular types of data. To build his network, Hinton employed tools from statistical physics, which studies systems composed of many homogeneous components.
In 2024, the Nobel Prize amount is set at 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1.06 million).
The Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded annually since 1901. The first laureate in 1901 was Wilhelm Röntgen. By 2024, the prize has been awarded to 224 individuals.
The 2024 Nobel Week commenced on October 7 with the announcement of the Nobel Prize winners in Medicine, which went to Americans Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNA and the study of its role in genetics.