How did a computer scientist such as Geoffrey Hinton manage to win a Nobel Prize in physics when computer science already has its own Nobel Prize equivalent in the Turing Awards?
Last Updated: 02.07.2025 01:39
[The basic structure of artificial neural networks] has close similarities with spin models in statistical physics applied to magnetism or alloy theory. This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics recognizes research exploiting this connection to make breakthrough methodological advances in the field of ANN.
Why wait any longer for the one you love?
A fly on the wall at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
A revolutionary drug made in N.J. is giving cancer patients years of their lives back - NJ.com
There you go.^†
"Where can we shoehorn it in? Chemistry is easy 'cos AlphaFold; but what about physics? A bit more challenging, right?"
In awarding prizes, the Nobel Committees often seem only marginally more competent than MTG is at explaining meteorology. And if they can give a literature prize for lyrics like:
Appendix Cancer Has Quadrupled in Millennials - AOL.com
"Good idea, but how can we wangle something that says 'Physics'?"
[Younger voice] "But wait a minute, Ising-Lenz goes back to the 1920's. And didn't Hinton plagiarise rather a lot? He also didn't invent modern backprop, did he, that's Linnainmaa? And Amari preceded Hopfield, too. That's not a good look."
… then anything is possible. There’s no rule that a Nobel Prize has to make sense.^*
Study tightens King plot-based constraints on hypothetical fifth force - Phys.org
When he's standing, in front of you
"Didn't he do something with Boltzmann in it? That sounds physics-y. RBMs and stuff, eh?"
"Naah, Linnainmaa is a Finn. Can't give it to a bloody Finnish mathematician. Let's go for drinks. Brännvin anyone?"
3 Black Holes Caught Eating Massive Stars in NASA Data - NASA Science (.gov)
^* Fibiger got the 1926 Medicine prize for the discovery of Spiroptera carcinoma (Don’t ask).
Whatever.
"Good point, I'm sure we can swing it. And let's tack on Hopfield while we're about it."
Chinese Stocks in Hong Kong Head for Bull Market Before US Talks - Bloomberg
They then move on to selectively provide their own version of history. But hey, it’s OK. They wanted controversy, didn’t they? Whatever.
In December 1973, when Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, comedian Tom Lehrer dropped his mic and stamped on it—satire had just died.
[Older voice] "Mmm. What about Hinton, he's widely regarded? Nobody got fired for buying IBM"
Dodgers Make Trade With Red Sox After Shohei Ohtani News - Athlon Sports
"Hey guys, AI is pretty big so let's centre our prizes on it this year. We can get some attention, and it's all about advertising, at the end of the day, isn't it?"
Whatever.
You can have your cake and eat it too
Chase Briscoe vs. Noah Gragson: A matchup between close friends - NASCAR.com
(Mumbles of assent)
(Bob Dylan, Nobel Prize for Literature, 2016)
Why wait any longer for the world to begin?
Has anyone tried Deepseek V3? Does it work?
Fortunately, we are privy to the discussion that led up to this:
^† They rationalise their decision thusly:
My 11 million SEK, Dr Jo.