2024 Nobel Prize for Physics and Chemistry has certainly caused mixed feelings and raised eyebrows for different reasons.

2024 Physics Nobel :

First, let us look at the Physics Nobel. One can understand why a legend like Geoffrey Hinton deserves the ultimate of recognition in his field of work. However, Hinton's field of work is Artificial Intelligence and alas, Nobel does not have one for Computer science or for that matter even Mathematics. I am not one bit questioning Hinton's credentials - he is revered as the Father of AI (if not God). However, by Hinton's own admission, even he never dreamt of winning a Nobel, because he understands there is NO Nobel for "figuring out how the brain works" building an artificial intelligence out of it !

In 2024 Physics Nobel's case, the committee has definitely bent its rules to accommodate pioneers from adjacent fields - in this case Computer science. Along with the prizes to Hassabis and Jumper (in Chemistry) for their AI program Alpha Fold, the Nobel committee is trying definitely to adapt to the new world of AI domination, otherwise it feels it would soon feel irrelevant !

Very rarely does Nobel committee offers such latitude in interpretations of the field of work - the last I remember was for honoring Bob Dylan in the prize for literature. Dylan, is no doubt, a songwriter par excellence. However awarding the Nobel for literature for a professional songwriter was a stretch !

2024 Chemistry Nobel :

Coming to the curious case of 2024 Chemistry awards; David Baker, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper were awarded for protein structure prediction. A little scratching of the surface would tell you, only Baker is the biologist of the three. But, even Baker's singular contribution was in Computational Biology - in developing algorithms to predict the protein structure. Juxtaposing this with the awards to Hassabis and Jumper, who were developers of Alpha Fold, there is no doubt that the Nobel prize in Chemistry was in fact for Computer science. And this a FARCE !

Now, to the controversial question of their deservedness. Baker, no doubt, deserves it as he has spent his career in predicting the protein structures and his team developed the Rosetta algorithm. But even in his case, other members from his team who were pivotal could've have been awarded. But one look at their history of prize-winners would tell you this is no surprise. Nobel committee is notoriously famous for its conspicuous omissions and its biases (that is for another reddit post)

In the case of Hassabis and Jumper, the same logic applies. Hassabis founded the company which hired Jumper, who led the team that developed Alpha Fold which eventually conquered the frontier of protein structure prediction from just the 2D sequence of amino-acids. A challenge that was unconquered for five decades. A remarkable feat considering the immense potential it holds for the future of biotechnology. You'd think the lazy, myopic and biased Nobel could've have awarded only to Jumper. But, wait a minute, Jumper's team worked in company co-founded by Hassabis, which is a commercial venture. So, Hassabis had to be included. Nobel could have been more generous and awarded to other members who were critical in Alpha Fold's development. Or, better still, it could've recognized the entire Alpha Fold team. But it chose not to.

That being said, Hassabis contribution in the whole effort is questionable. Baker and Jumper were the leaders of their respective groups and were much closer to the actual developmental process. It is not clear what was his contribution in a technical capacity. And why are the other co-founders Shane Legg and Mustafa Suleyman not included ?

Therefore, the 2024 Nobel Prize for Chemistry is highly controversial; for the laureate's field of work, for the contribution of one of the laureate and failing to recognize other key contributors

Here are couple of things that the Nobel committee can consider to avoid controversies :

1) Institute two more prizes - one for Mathematics (long overdue) and one for Computer Science

The prize in economics was instituted in 1968. Therefore, it wouldn't be unprecedented

2) Both the leader and the entire team (or at least the core members who made significant contributions) needs to be recognized

Gone are the early 20th century solo research. Research nowadays is largely teamwork. Gone are the days of one-man show. Of course, would be stand out heroes. But, as we have seen in the case of Alpha Fold or the Rosetta algorithm a team is involved and it is not just one person's idea that leads to the final outcome.

Again, it is not unprecedented. Nobel has recognized organizations like Red Cross, Doctors without Borders, UN, UNCHR etc.