Overview

• Andrew Barto and Richard Sutton, key figures in artificial intelligence, have won the 2025 Turing Award, often referred to as the 'Nobel Prize of Computing.'
• Their work on reinforcement learning, a method where machines learn through trial and error using rewards and penalties, laid the foundation for modern AI systems.
• The technique has enabled significant advancements, including Google's AlphaGo, OpenAI's ChatGPT, and applications in robotics, finance, and chip design.
• Barto and Sutton's research, initially unfashionable, has grown to be a central pillar of AI development, attracting investments and inspiring new generations of researchers.
• While optimistic about AI's potential, the recipients emphasized the importance of caution in its development, highlighting risks tied to rapid deployment without proper safeguards.