The Nobel Committee for Physics named John J Hopfeld (left) and Geoffrey E Hinton as co-recipients of the 2024 Nobel Prize for Physics on October 8 for their work training artificial neural networks using physics. (©Nobel Committee)
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are accelerating at a torrid pace with no end in sight. The 2024 Nobel Prize selections drove this point home for people throughout the world.
Winners of the Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry were chosen for the results of their AI-related research. The new Nobel laureates in physics are researchers from the United States and Canada. They developed technology that mimics the workings of the human brain to provide the foundation for today's powerful AI machine learning.
The chemistry prize was awarded to three British and American researchers. They developed technology using AI to predict the three-dimensional structure of proteins.
These were the first Nobel prizes awarded in the AI field. They are also proof that AI capabilities are beginning to rival the cutting edge of human intelligence. It seems fair to say that this was a landmark year in human history.
A Long Time in the Making
Research into AI dates back to a 1956 meeting of mathematical scientists at Dartmouth College in the United States. Over the nearly 70 years since then, AI development has progressed step by step. Currently, we are in the midst of a fourth-stage boom with the emergence of large-scale language models (LLM).
ChatGPT, released by the US-based company OpenAI in 2022, is also a form of generative AI. It enables conversational interactions using LLM.
AI has already become integrated into society and is being used in a variety of fields. Furthermore, among other things, it is improving the efficiency of our lives and work.
Nevertheless, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the negative aspects of AI's unprecedented capabilities. Issues range from copyright infringement to deepfake images that are casting a shadow over the ongoing American presidential election.
Controlling AI
Since the impact of AI extends to the national interests and security of various countries, it is also difficult to achieve international consensus on legal regulations. For example, the European Union enacted the world's first comprehensive regulations of AI in May. However, they are seen in part as measures designed to rein in American companies.
Meanwhile, China's strategy is to fully support AI development by domestic companies while tightening censorship of free speech.
Under these conditions, within a few years, artificial general intelligence, or AGI, capable of performing any intellectual task could emerge. After that, also expect to see the arrival of artificial superintelligence, or ASI, which will far surpass human intelligence.
Furthermore, it is just like nuclear power, which can produce abundant electricity. However, it can also be used for destruction in the guise of nuclear weapons. In sum, AI is a technology that can act as a double-edged sword.
Geoffrey E Hinton, co-winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize for Physics, told the press: "We've never had anything smarter than ourselves. We have to worry about the threat of it getting out of control."
We should ponder the full implications of those words.
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(Read the editorial in Japanese.)
Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
