Brain Science and Computing
To date, there hasn’t been an overarching theory of how the human brain really works, Jeff Hawkins argues in this compelling talk. That’s because we still haven’t defined intelligence accurately. But one thing’s for sure, he says: The brain isn’t like a powerful computer processor. It’s more like a memory system that records everything we experience and helps us predict, intelligently, what will happen next. Bringing this new brain science to computer devices will enable powerful new applications — and it will happen sooner than you think.
About Jeff Hawkins:
Jeff Hawkins pioneered the development of PDAs such as the Palm and Treo. Now he’s trying to understand how the human brain really works, and adapt its method — which he describes as a deep system for storing memory — to create new kinds of computers and tools.
Jeff Hawkins’ Palm PDA became such a widely used productivity tool during the 1990s that some fanatical users claimed it replaced their brains. But Hawkins’ deepest interest was in the brain itself. So after the success of the Palm and Treo, which he brought to market at Handspring, Hawkins delved into brain research at the Redwood Center for Theoretical Neuroscience in Berkeley, Calif., and a new company called Numenta.
Hawkins’ dual goal is to achieve an understanding of how the human brain actually works — and then develop software to mimic its functionality, delivering true artificial intelligence. In his book On Intelligence (2004) he lays out his compelling, controversial theory: Contrary to popular AI wisdom, the human neocortex doesn’t work like a processor; rather, it relies on a memory system that stores and plays back experiences to help us predict, intelligently, what will happen next. He think that “hierarchical temporal memory” computer platforms, which mimic this functionality (and which Numenta might pioneer), could enable groundbreaking new applications that could powerfully extend human intelligence.
Tags: Brain, Business, Controversial Theory, Dual Goal, Intelligence, Jeff Hawkins, memory, Neocortex, New Brain, Palm Pda, Powerful Computer, Productivity Tool, Redwood Center, Science, Technology, Technology, Theoretical Neuroscience, True Artificial Intelligence, wisdomIf you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
