Turing Award Winners Warn Of AI

Welcome to another edition of the Neural Net…

Where AI whispers predictions, humans make decisions, and everyone's inbox remains perpetually full.

In this issue:

• This Year’s Turing Award Goes To…

• Quantum Computing Stuck In Limbo

• Sam Altman Says GPT5 Will Be Smarter Than Him + See If You’ve Already Been Passed Up

• Meta Minds Your Business

• Google Feels The Heat, Wants Workers In The Kitchen

• Get Smarter About AI With Hubspot

Turing Award Legends Created AI…Now They’re Low-Key Terrified

Andrew Barto and Richard Sutton Win the Turing Award
These two AI pioneers are being recognized for their groundbreaking work in reinforcement learning (RL)—but they’re also waving a caution flag for anyone racing full-speed into our AI-led future. The Turing Award is handed out annually for groundbreaking contributions to computer science. It’s often called the “Nobel Prize of Computing,” which makes sense given the lucrative $1 million prize courtesy of Google.

What’s Reinforcement Learning, Anyway?
If the term sounds foreign, think of it like teaching a puppy: reward good behavior, correct mistakes. In the AI realm, that means machines learn to adjust their behavior until they figure out the best way to do something. From self-driving cars to Netflix’s recommendation algorithm for your Friday night Revenge Binge, RL quietly enables much of our modern tech. In fact, RL is said to be the gateway to general artificial intelligence, where computers can reason and adapt as well as a human.

Is This a New Thing?
Not quite—Barto and Sutton pioneered the initial versions of RL long before it became trendy, back in the 80’s when software engineers didn’t rule the world. The foundations were being laid when the Berlin Wall fell, “The Breakfast Club” hit theaters, and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” dominated the charts. Basically, AI had the mixtape ready; the world just wasn’t listening yet.

RL didn’t fully enter the spotlight until 2008, when an algorithm dubbed AlphaGo started crushing humans at board games, which left the human board-game champions questioning their life choices.

Here’s What They Said
Despite their massive contributions, Barto and Sutton aren’t just popping champagne. They’re also raising ethical concerns about AI deployment. They likened releasing untested software to “building a bridge and testing it by having people use it.” Investors want ROI—which is fair—but there’s a worry that profit might trump safety. And they’re not alone in sounding the alarm.

In 2023, AI researchers (including two past Turing Award winners) plus OpenAI CEO Sam Altman published a statement saying, “Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority.” You read that right: extinction. It’s almost a Frankenstein scenario—where the creators themselves are spooked by their own invention. Sure, it’s nice to see them taking responsibility, but it’s also a bit unsettling when the people who built the technology start worrying about keeping it in check.

Haven’t gotten enough RL and want to nerd out? You can dive deeper here.

Heard in the Server Room 
Quick hits roundup of AI news

• Quantum Computing Stuck In Limbo

  Quantum computing: computers harnessing quantum physics to solve problems normal computers can’t—in a way so mind-boggling we barely know how to describe it. Despite flashy press releases and promises from Silicon Valley's finest, quantum computing continues to linger in technology purgatory, where systems are just noisy enough to impress at conferences but too unstable to actually do anything useful. Even Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang thinks that truly useful quantum machines are still decades away, giving regular computers plenty of time to update their LinkedIn profiles.

• Sam Altman Declares GPT-5 To Be Smarter Than Him

  OpenAI's Sam Altman just declared that GPT-5 will be smarter than he is, which is either impressive humility or terrifying foreshadowing (or both?). At a Berlin tech panel, the CEO suggested the upcoming AI model will feature reasoning skills that make current versions look like calculator watches compared to quantum computers. Think you can outsmart GenAI? Take this test and learn just how little you know: https://www.walzr.com/smarter-than-ai/

• Meta Targeting Hundreds of Millions of Businesses with Agentic AI Rollout

  Meta's latest tech flex comes in the form of "agentic AI"—autonomous digital minions that can run your business while you focus on that Etsy side hustle. Clara Shih, Meta's head of business AI, believes these AI agents will become as essential as websites, envisioning a future where even the smallest business can deploy digital clones to handle customer service and operations. Welcome to 2025, where your business's best employee might just be an algorithm.

Leaked Memo Shows Google Feels The Pressure

A recently leaked internal memo shows Google cofounder Sergey Brin urging teams to work 60-hour weeks as the tech giant faces mounting competition in the race to develop artificial intelligence.

Historically, Google has cultivated a laid-back, flexible work culture, complete with perks like nap pods and free gourmet meals. Brin’s memo signals a departure from that tradition, reflecting the heightened sense of urgency now surrounding AI development.

With rivals like OpenAI and Microsoft making big strides, the push suggests the tech giant feels it must double down on in-person collaboration and extended hours to stay relevant.

If long weeks and weekend desk time sound more like your personal horror show than a career path, well, you’re welcome to skip the Silicon Valley salary and perks.