The Physics of Artificial Intelligence
Every so often, a video comes along that makes you see AI in an entirely new light.
Karl Barker11/11/20251
physics of ai
The Physics of Artificial Intelligence, produced by ScienceClick in collaboration with the NSF AI Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions, does exactly that.
Rather than focusing on chatbots or ethical debates, it dives deep into the scientific foundations that quietly connect machine learning to the laws of nature. Through clear visuals and storytelling, it reveals how models like the Ising model of magnetism and Hopfield networks helped shape the neural architectures driving today’s AI.
You’ll learn how simple physical ideas—spins aligning, systems finding equilibrium—mirror the way neural networks learn patterns and minimize energy. The video goes even further, showing how quantum field theory and Gaussian processes relate to how wide neural networks behave, drawing fascinating parallels between particles and patterns of thought.
This is more than a physics lesson. It’s a reminder that the intelligence we’re building in silicon has roots in the same principles that govern stars, atoms, and magnetism.
If you’re curious about how the fundamental laws of the universe inspire artificial intelligence, this 10-minute video is a must-watch. It’s clear, beautifully animated, and bridges two worlds—physics and AI—that are more connected than most people realise.
Watch the video -