In 1905, Albert Einstein published a paper on the photoelectric effect — a deceptively simple observation that light could eject electrons from metals. This work, which later won him the Nobel Prize, didn’t just explain an oddity in physics. It shattered classical mechanics, birthing quantum theory and reshaping our understanding of reality.
But here’s a provocative question: Could an AI, trained on 19th-century data, have made the same leap?
The answer isn’t just about physics. It’s about whether machines can replicate — or surpass — the spark of human genius. Let’s dissect this.