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 10:36
My 11 million SEK, Dr Jo.
[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.
^† They rationalise their decision thusly:
Renck: If J.K. Dobbins stays healthy, he’ll be reason Broncos win AFC West - The Denver Post
"Didn't he do something with Boltzmann in it? That sounds physics-y. RBMs and stuff, eh?"
[Older voice] "Mmm. What about Hinton, he's widely regarded? Nobody got fired for buying IBM"
… then anything is possible. There’s no rule that a Nobel Prize has to make sense.^*
What's the most surprising connection you've discovered with someone you just met?
[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."
When he's standing, in front of you
"Where can we shoehorn it in? Chemistry is easy 'cos AlphaFold; but what about physics? A bit more challenging, right?"
R.I.P Loretta Swit: How well do you remember ''Hot Lips'' Houlihan? - MeTV
A fly on the wall at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Why wait any longer for the one you love?
"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?"
MIT Discovers Magnetic Superconductor in Pencil Lead - SciTechDaily
"Good idea, but how can we wangle something that says 'Physics'?"
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.
CPI Report Today: Dow Futures Slip; U.S. and China Agree Trade Truce Framework - WSJ
^* Fibiger got the 1926 Medicine prize for the discovery of Spiroptera carcinoma (Don’t ask).
Why wait any longer for the world to begin?
(Mumbles of assent)
Eight killed after hot air balloon catches fire, crashes in Brazil - Al Jazeera
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:
"Good point, I'm sure we can swing it. And let's tack on Hopfield while we're about it."
Fortunately, we are privy to the discussion that led up to this:
Thunder-Pacers: SGA, OKC rally to win Game 4 of NBA Finals - Al Jazeera
You can have your cake and eat it too
There you go.^†
Whatever.
Mya Lesnar, daughter to WWE legend Brock Lesnar, wins national title in shot put - ESPN
(Bob Dylan, Nobel Prize for Literature, 2016)
"Naah, Linnainmaa is a Finn. Can't give it to a bloody Finnish mathematician. Let's go for drinks. Brännvin anyone?"
They then move on to selectively provide their own version of history. But hey, it’s OK. They wanted controversy, didn’t they? Whatever.