The 2016 Lovie Lifetime Achievement Award went to French computer scientist Professor Yann LeCun, celebrating his work as one of the pioneers in the creation of neural networks. LeCun’s contributions to the science of machine learning, mobile robotics and computational neuroscience among other learned fields, is legendary—and has touched us all in the digital world whether we realise it or not.

As a founder of Neural Nets, LeCun applied biological methods of perception to computer processors. Currently the Head of Artificial Intelligence at Facebook, LeCun is poised to see his genius bear inventive innovations to the social media platform that will affect a global user base. As he continues to inform and experiment with the future of mediums such as the incredibly fast-growing arena of machine learning, LeCun’s work will only improve upon the already impressive technologies he has brought to fruition.