Imagine a program that simulates all the connections between
100 billion neurons in your brain. Then the program is put in a Lego robot. Yes, now you have a robot equivalent. Sounds like BS? But the
OpenWorm project recently announced that they did what I just told you, but only on a worm whose brain contains 302 neuron. They posted a video of the Lego worm. Notice that the worm robot, seemingly stopping and backing like a stupid robot that children play for fun, actually interacts with the environment, like the real one in water. In other words, the robot has the mind of a normal worm. The robot, unlike the artificial intelligence (AI), is created by nature but only cataloged and transferred to a robot.
Here is another video that shows the simulation of the worm in computer.
It was insane to say that human mind can be uploaded into a robot. Now, with the groundbreaking project of Lego worm, it only becomes ridiculous to say the same thing. But the speed of technology development is always an exponential curve. It took around 10 years for the OpenWorm project to succeed, but it is only the starting point. Just like the computer, whose development in the beginning was desperately slow and disappointing , comparing to today's computer. In short, the coming of Lego human will be much faster than we expect. Those sci-fi movies which look impossible may turn true before the end of this century.
Suppose everything of your brain is finally uploaded to a robot, and now you have Lego twin. He or she shares the same traits with you, not only the innate traits but also the acquired traits, because your Lego twin has the same genome and memory as you. This raises a ton of interesting philosophic questions. Can we say you reach digital immortality? Since it is the Lego you who is immortal but not you. Since the robot knows everything you know, including those secrets that you never want to share with anybody, what are you going to do with the Lego you. To deactivate the robot? The Lego you, as you, knows what you think, don't want to die for sure and will probably fight back, which you will realize too. Now, it becomes that you have to turn the Lego you off before he or she kills you.
No one knows what will happen when simulation of human brain becomes possible. Nonetheless, keep your eyes on the newly development of AI and computer science. An unprecedented storm is brewing.
This is one of those accomplishments in technology that is both terrifying and awe inspiring. The fact that technology has advanced enough to simulate life, even at a basic level, is absolutely ineradicable. On the other hand there are those that would see this advance as the first step to self destruction. With both of these things in mind I would like to closely follow the development of this.
ReplyDeleteYeah. This is the reason why I want to share this information to others, and I am still trying to understand what is going on in this field, since only knowing part of it will lead to a bias.
DeleteWow, that was both beautiful and terrifying. This was such an interesting post to read, since this is exactly the field I want to get into. The idea that we might eventually be able to create intelligence that can think and imagine on its own is such a terrifying, yet inspiring idea. I can't even imagine the religious and philosophical implication of such an event.
ReplyDeleteI actually tried to make an artificial intelligence that could learn and adopt based on its experience by taking an AI chess engine and inserting a data structure similar to that of neurons and synapses in brains. Of course, I failed, but this post made me remember. What do you think? Do you think we will ever be able to create an AI that can surpass our own brain? Should we ever do such a thing?
Wait. You really tried to make an AI. I didn't know that you are good at such stuff. Can you teach me next time?
DeleteRegarding your question, my answer will be Yes. Even if some will oppose the development of AI for sure, some people will still keep going and create something that will stun the world one day. Should we do it? We will see.