John Hopfield: Nobel Prize Conversations

This podcast episode features an interview with John Hopfield, the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physics recipient, conducted by Adam Smith. Hopfield discusses his upbringing in a physics-oriented environment, his transition from physics to interdisciplinary work in neuroscience and molecular biology, and his development of the first neural network. He reflects on the challenges and rewards of working at the intersection of different scientific fields, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation and the need for a core discipline to build upon. The conversation also explores Hopfield's concerns about the current state of AI development, particularly the inability to fully understand how AI systems work and the potential for unintended consequences, drawing parallels with the discussions surrounding recombinant DNA technology in the 1970s. Additionally, an epilogue delves into the limits of AI and the necessity of incorporating biological complexity into AI models.