Gamechangers: More than just a game

Deep learning, a form of artificial intelligence, powers voice assistants, facial recognition, music recommendations and underpins pioneering scientific research on how proteins fold. But all this was made possible by a breakthrough in a completely different field: video games. Powerful graphics chips (GPUs), developed to make video games more realistic, turned out to be ideal for speeding up the mathematical calculations used in deep learning. Host Tom Standage finds out how gaming transformed AI and meets the researchers who persevered when the chips were down. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Om Podcasten

It might start with a lightbulb moment or a sudden flash of insight—but having an idea and making a success of it are very different things. It’s the gap between invention and innovation. In these six episodes, you’ll find out about the people and stories behind game-changing ideas and technology.Sign up for Economist Podcasts+ at www.economist.com/podcastsplusIf you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.