The Nobel prizes, regarded by many scientists as the pinnacle of professional achievement, often do an admirable job of bringing complex – sometimes niche – discoveries to lay audiences.
Some findings are perhaps less likely to catch the public’s imagination than others. In 2022, Alain Aspect, John Clauser and Anton Zeilinger won the Nobel Prize for Physics for “experiments with entangled photons, establishing the violation of Bell inequalities and pioneering quantum information science” – important work, surely, but not a topic for most water-cooler conversations.
But the 2024 prizes in physics, chemistry and medicine, announced earlier this week, are linked to a technology that has already staked a place in the zeitgeist, and could prove to be as revolutionary as the theory of relativity developed by another Nobel winner, Albert Einstein.
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded this year’s prize in physics to researchers John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton – also known as the "godfather of AI" – for "foundational advances in machine learning with artificial neural networks". In chemistry, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper were awarded a Nobel for developing an AI model to solve a 50-year-old problem, that of predicting proteins’ complex structures. Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won their Nobel prize in medicine for discovering microRNA, a vital component of effective Covid-19 vaccines in which AI tools played a key developmental role.
All three cases help to reveal AI as perhaps the most ubiquitous and impactful technology of the early 21st century. Research into machine learning and advanced computing was once considered a fringe science but now it powers everything from everyday tools such as ChatGPT to research into climate change and space exploration. AI’s ability to play a part in everything from protein research or vaccine development has now been recognised at the highest level.
Many of the recipients of this year’s prizes also reflect AI’s emergence from university labs into the wider world. For example, Mr Hinton was a key figure at Google AI’s division for many years and Mr Hassabis is an entrepreneur and the chief executive of DeepMind, an influential AI research company. He has also advised the UK government on AI.
All three cases help to reveal AI as perhaps the most ubiquitous and impactful technology of the early 21st century so far
Closer to home, AI’s potential for changing the world and tackling global crises has also been reflected in the Zayed Sustainability Prize, which this week selected the 33 finalists among projects that aim to harness artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to reduce carbon emissions and ensure access to clean energy, water, food and health care. The UAE’s embrace of this pioneering science – from having the world’s first minister for AI as well as setting up the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence – shows it is at forefront of this new era.
Einstein’s 1921 Nobel prize for discovering the photoelectric effect helped revolutionise our understanding of physics. Crick, Watson and Wilkins’s discovery of the molecular structure of DNA led to their own Nobel prize in 1962. In both cases, their breakthroughs had effects that reached into every corner of our lives, with profound implications for all of us. This year’s Nobel prizes are another such turning point, that begs the question: where next for humanity?
The five pillars of Islam
The five pillars of Islam
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
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The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)
Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes
Favourite hobby: Football
Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk
'The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey'
Rating: 3/5
Directors: Ramin Bahrani, Debbie Allen, Hanelle Culpepper, Guillermo Navarro
Writers: Walter Mosley
Stars: Samuel L Jackson, Dominique Fishback, Walton Goggins
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDirect%20Debit%20System%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sept%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20with%20a%20subsidiary%20in%20the%20UK%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Undisclosed%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elaine%20Jones%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Canada
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Zidane's managerial achievements
La Liga: 2016/17
Spanish Super Cup: 2017
Uefa Champions League: 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18
Uefa Super Cup: 2016, 2017
Fifa Club World Cup: 2016, 2017
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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How to come clean about financial infidelity
- Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
- Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help.
- Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
- Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
- Work on a plan to resolve the problem together: If there is a lot of debt, for example, create a budget and financial plan together and ensure your partner is fully informed, involved and supported.
Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ANALYSTS’ TOP PICKS OF SAUDI BANKS IN 2019
Analyst: Aqib Mehboob of Saudi Fransi Capital
Top pick: National Commercial Bank
Reason: It will be at the forefront of project financing for government-led projects
Analyst: Shabbir Malik of EFG-Hermes
Top pick: Al Rajhi Bank
Reason: Defensive balance sheet, well positioned in retail segment and positively geared for rising rates
Analyst: Chiradeep Ghosh of Sico Bank
Top pick: Arab National Bank
Reason: Attractive valuation and good growth potential in terms of both balance sheet and dividends
