The human brain is a prodigiously convoluted and intricate three-dimensional structure. Furthermore, it can also be said that the human brain is, in essence, a 'plastic' organ which is made-up of a densely interconnected network of neurons and synapses, that miraculously orchestrates itself to produce; cognition, emotion and the coordination of locomotion.
Currently, we only possess a superficial level of knowledge on the human brain, and thus, most theories on cognition and the functionality of the human brain are just as speculative as geographical theories on plate-tectonics.
Interestingly, there is currently a school of thought in the field of computing that asserts that it is feasible to bring into being—using our current level of knowledge on the functionality of human brains—super-humanly intelligent complex-systems (that are of course, modeled on the human brain).
However, I doubt if significant headway can be gained using the aforementioned approach to designing intelligent systems; - as our current comprehension of the human brain is somewhat constrained. Hence, this implies that any intelligent system we design based on our current knowledge on the functionality of the human brain, would be brittle and lacking in robustness. However, that doesn't mean that the bio-inspired approach to designing intelligent systems has to be abandoned all-together.
However, I doubt if significant headway can be gained using the aforementioned approach to designing intelligent systems; - as our current comprehension of the human brain is somewhat constrained. Hence, this implies that any intelligent system we design based on our current knowledge on the functionality of the human brain, would be brittle and lacking in robustness. However, that doesn't mean that the bio-inspired approach to designing intelligent systems has to be abandoned all-together.
For the bio-inspired paradigm of creating super-humanly intelligent complex systems to be feasible, we have to start by perfecting our knowledge on the functionality of the human brain. Craig Venter has contributed inordinately to our knowledge on human brain genes, and to our general knowledge on the human genome (FYI: He also increased the number of known genes on the planet by ten times). One of his noteworthy contributions to science, was the creation of a new partially synthetic species of bacterium; derived from the genome of the bacterium that causes urinary tract infections. He achieved this with the aid of a fast method for synthesizing a genome from scratch. Hence, simply put: Venter's achievements grant us the power to understand, and manipulate the building blocks of life in furiously unfathomable ways.
Therefore, I firmly believe that if we conflate his technology for creating synthetic lifeforms (like Mycoplasma laboratorium) with currently-existing stem-cell technology, we'll be able to create, from scratch, a synthetic somewhat-functional equivalent to the human brain (that we can draw additional insights from). Indeed, this is a mammoth and almost insurmountable task, but I believe that it is feasible to achieve this with the current level of technology.
Therefore, I firmly believe that if we conflate his technology for creating synthetic lifeforms (like Mycoplasma laboratorium) with currently-existing stem-cell technology, we'll be able to create, from scratch, a synthetic somewhat-functional equivalent to the human brain (that we can draw additional insights from). Indeed, this is a mammoth and almost insurmountable task, but I believe that it is feasible to achieve this with the current level of technology.
If we attempt to create a synthetic functional equivalent to the human brain, our failures would quickly-indicate the flaws and gaps in our current understanding of the human brain, which would help us to fine-tune our design approach in an exponentially self-reinforcing cycle. Hence, it is evident that this would continuously-increase our potential to bring into being more robust, bio-inspired-superhumanly-intelligent systems. Furthermore, such a project would help us to develop effective therapies for terminal ailments like Alzheimer's disease and other mentally debilitating conditions.
Otherwise stated: undertaking to create a bio-inspired synthetic functional equivalent to the human brain would increase progression in the fields of computing and mental health-care.
Otherwise stated: undertaking to create a bio-inspired synthetic functional equivalent to the human brain would increase progression in the fields of computing and mental health-care.
So, let us do it!
