The implementation of reinforcement learning has propelled significant advancements in AI, such as AlphaZero and AlphaStar, showcasing remarkable proficiency in complex games like chess and Starcraft II. Recently, Andrew G. Barto and Richard S. Sutton were honored with the 2025 Turing Award for their foundational contributions to this field. Their work emphasizes the development of vital algorithms and theoretical frameworks that enhance machine learning. The concept can be illustrated with the analogy of a mouse navigating a maze to reach a reward, reflecting the learning processes of intelligent systems.
Reinforcement learning can be thought of by analogy with a mouse in a maze: the mouse must find its way through an unknown environment to an ultimate reward.
The ACM award states that Barto and Sutton introduced the main ideas, constructed the mathematical foundations, and developed important algorithms for reinforcement learning.
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