今天来一篇有“深度”的经济学人精读:关于人工智能深度学习。
本篇先讲前两段。
标题和引言:
No Phd, No Problem
New Schemes Teach the Masses to Build AI
Treating it like a craft is paying dividends
No Phd, No Problem
Phd:全写为 Doctor of Philosophy,哲学博士学位,博士学位
短语:do a PhD 攻读博士学位
这个标题点明文章一个关键信息:打造会学习的软件,没必要攻读博士学位
New Schemes Teach the Masses to Build AI
新项目教大众研发AI
the masses:群众,大众;平民百姓
masses (of sth) 大量的东西,相当于lots(of sth)
AI:artificial intelligence人工智能
引言:Treating it like a craft is paying dividends
craft:手艺;工艺; 词组:arts and crafts手工艺;
还表示“技巧;技能;技艺”,例如:the writer's craft 写作技巧
dividend:股息,红利
pay/bring dividends有好结果,有回报
第一段:
①OVER THE past five years researchers in artificial intelligence have become the rock stars of the technology world. ②A branch of AI known as deep learning, which uses neural networks to churn through large volumes of data looking for patterns, has proven so useful that skilled practitioners can command high six-figure salaries to build software for Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google. ③ The top names can earn over $1m a year.
重点看一下第二句。
第二句的句子很长,但是大结构就是:A branch of AI has proven so useful that……
which uses neural networks to churn through large volumes of data looking for patterns是插入式的定语从句,修饰deep learning,对深度学习进行了进一步说明。
churn:动词, 剧烈搅动;(使)猛烈翻腾,英文解释为: if water, mud etc churns, or if something churns it, it moves about violently。
这里用了一个非常形象的表达:churn through large volumes of data,字面意思说来回搅动大量数据,即是说:处理大量数据
skilled:〔人〕有技能的,熟练的
practitioners:专门人才,从事者;另外,还特别表示“执业医师;执业律师”。
command:作动词,表示“应得;博得;值得”
command respect赢得尊敬; to command sympathy 值得同情
再举个例子:As a top lawyer, he can expect to command a six-figure salary. 作为首屈一指的律师,他可望拿到六位数的薪资。
段落大意:过去五年里,人工智能(AI)的研究人员已经成为科技领域的摇滚明星。AI的一个分支被称为深度学习(deep learning),它利用神经网络处理大量数据,并从中寻找模式。事实证明,深度学习非常有用,经验丰富的专业人员为亚马逊(Amazon)、苹果(Apple)、Facebook和谷歌研发软件能拿到六位数的高薪。顶级专家年薪超过100万美元。
第二段:
The standard route into these jobs has been a PhD in computer science from one of America’s elite universities. Earning one takes years and requires a disposition suited to academia, which is rare among more normal folk. Graduate students are regularly lured away from their studies by lucrative jobs.
route 途径,方法
elite:adj.出类拔萃的,精锐的;作名词表示“(社会)精英;上层人士”;
elite universities:顶尖大学,一流大学,精英大学
disposition:性格;性情( temperament), 例如:性情开朗 to have a cheerful disposition
academia:学术;学术界
lure:引诱,诱惑;
lure sb away,举个例子:Computer games are luring youngsters away from their lessons. 电脑游戏诱惑着青少年,分散了他们的学习注意力。
段落大意:进入这些工作岗位的标准途径是获得美国一所顶尖大学的计算机科学博士学位。而这需要耗费多年的时间,且需要一种适合学术界的性情,普通人中有如此性情的已并不多见了。面对高薪工作的诱惑,研究生往往会放弃学业。
未完待续...
译文仅供参考,若有不准确之处,还请温柔提点。