Science & Technology

Artificial brain under development

By T.K. Randall
February 27, 2013 ·  23 comments

Image Credit: flaivoloka / sxc.hu The Human Brain Project (HBP) led by Henry Markram is working to create a thinking machine that operates much the same way as our own brains. The project's aim is to discover "profound insights into what makes us human, develop new treatments for brain diseases and build revolutionary new computing technologies." Supported by the EU, the project will receive one billion Euro in funding over the next ten years.

A few concerns have been raised over the ambitious project however and not just in terms of the amount of money being pumped in to it. Some believe that if it succeeds it could pave the way for artificial intelligence. "What happens if computers reach and exceed human capacities to write computer programs ?" asked philosopher Huw Price and Skype founder Jaan Tallinn in a recent study of extinction level risks to our species. The pair argued that the creation of a machine capable of building another machine more intelligent than itself would be the last invention humans ever make, paving the way for a future dominated by intelligent computers that would leave humankind in the dust.[!gad]The Human Brain Project (HBP) led by Henry Markram is working to create a thinking machine that operates much the same way as our own brains. The project's aim is to discover "profound insights into what makes us human, develop new treatments for brain diseases and build revolutionary new computing technologies." Supported by the EU, the project will receive one billion Euro in funding over the next ten years.

A few concerns have been raised over the ambitious project however and not just in terms of the amount of money being pumped in to it. Some believe that if it succeeds it could pave the way for artificial intelligence. "What happens if computers reach and exceed human capacities to write computer programs ?" asked philosopher Huw Price and Skype founder Jaan Tallinn in a recent study of extinction level risks to our species. The pair argued that the creation of a machine capable of building another machine more intelligent than itself would be the last invention humans ever make, paving the way for a future dominated by intelligent computers that would leave humankind in the dust.

Source: Telegraph | Comments (23)

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