Friday, December 13, 2024

‘Mind-in-a-jar’ biocomputers can now study to regulate robots

Biocomputing occupies a peculiar frontier in advancing knowledge, enabled by the fascinating fact that neurons interpret the world and respond to it through a language that computers can also comprehend – electrical signals. Synthetic neurons, cultured on silicon substrates, can acquire electrochemical signals from a computer, endeavour to decipher their meaning, and engage in subsequent deliberations.

Extra importantly, they’ll study. We first came across the concept during our studies at Monash University in Australia. In circumstances that should have felt like a ticking time bomb, the atmosphere was instead eerily calm. Dr. Frankenstein Secondly, scientists successfully cultured approximately 800,000 neurons on a microchip, which was then immersed in a simulated environment. Observed a cybernetic monstrosity rapidly learn to master the classic game of Pong within a mere five-minute span.. The venture moved swiftly, and subsequently spawned an organization known as Cortical Labs.

Cortical Labs has prototyped computing modules built around human brain cells, and is looking to commercialize this hybrid learning intelligence
Cortical Labs has developed prototype computing modules inspired by the structure of human brain cells, and is poised to bring this innovative hybrid artificial intelligence to market.

Cortical Labs

When he advised us, it became clear that even at an early stage, human neuron-enhanced biocomputers appear to learn much sooner, utilizing significantly less energy than today’s AI machine learning chips, while demonstrating “more instinct, perception, and creativity.” Our brains, after all, consume only a tiny 20 watts to power nature’s most powerful neural networks.

We conducted assessments on reinforcing learning, and our findings reveal a stark contrast in the pace at which systems begin to demonstrate significant learning based on the number of samples they are presented with. Despite being rudimentary in nature, organic methods currently surpass even the most sophisticated deep learning models designed by humans. That is fairly wild.”

One potential drawback, aside from the obvious ethical concerns, is that preserving the “wetware” elements requires keeping them alive. Maintaining a sterile environment by keeping them fed, well-watered, at the optimal temperature, and safeguarded from bacterial and viral threats. Cortical’s 2023 report reflected a 12-month timeline.

Four human brain organoids, each with around 10,000 living human brain cells, wired into a biocomputing array in FinalSpark' s Neuroplatform
Four human-mind-derived organoids, each comprising approximately 10,000 resident human mind cells, are integrated within a biocomputing array on FinalSpark’s Neuroplatform.

FinalSpark

Researchers at Indiana University have explored innovative approaches by allowing neural networks to self-organize prior to electrode insertion, while Swiss startup FinalSpark is pioneering the development of biocomputing chips that combine biomolecules with microelectronics.

If you’ve just learned about brain-on-a-chip technology, take a moment to collect yourself before exploring these links – the innovation is truly astounding. Chinese researchers are reportedly moving their AI-powered chatbots to the next level.

Tianjin University’s Haihe Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interaction and Human-Computer Integration teams up with other research groups from Southern University of Science and Technology in a collaborative endeavour called MetaBOC, which is actually brain-on-chip for short.

Key components of brain-on-chip technologies, helpfully labelled in Chinese
?Brain-on-Chip Applied Sciences:?

???Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS)??
????Biological Microfluidics?
????Neuro-Inspired Computing?
????High-Density Nanofabrication?
????Bio-Inspired Signal Processing?

Note: The text is rewritten to provide a concise and clear overview of brain-on-chip applied sciences, with key elements helpfully labelled in Chinese.

Tianjin College

The open-source software enables seamless communication between brain-on-a-chip biocomputers and various digital devices, allowing the brain organoid to comprehend digital signals, operate according to controls granted access, and learn to perform specific tasks?

Researchers at Tianjin are leveraging spherical organoids, akin to those employed by Indiana’s Brainoware team, whose three-dimensional architecture enables the formation of more sophisticated neural connections, mirroring the intricate patterns found within human brains. These organoids have the potential to serve as a more robust foundation for further development.

The MetaBOC system leverages artificial intelligence to engage in a harmonious dialogue with the brain’s inherent organic intelligence, employing algorithms that intuitively respond to neural signals.

The Tianjin group’s mention of robotics as an integration goal is intriguing, but their accompanying visuals – a series of seemingly amateurish images – appear to be a deliberate effort to diminish the project’s legitimacy. Researchers have successfully developed a brain-on-a-chip biocomputer that enables the exploration of robotic control, allowing for the investigation of functions such as navigating around obstacles, tracking targets, and utilizing arm and finger movements to interact with various objects.

As a result of the mind organoid’s visual processing is limited by the electrical signals presented to it, it could theoretically learn to pilot its mini-Gundam in a simulated environment, thereby allowing it to refine its skills without compromising its biological intelligence.

No, the organoids probably won't be that big to begin with. They will, however, require all sorts of support gear, including fluid and nutrient lines, anti-pathogenic seals, temperature-control and shock-proofing systems
While the initial size of organoids may not be massive, To function optimally, these devices will necessitate a range of support systems, including fluid and nutrient pathways, antimicrobial seals, thermal regulation, and shock-absorbing measures.

Tianjin College

To dispel any ambiguity, these supposedly transparent, bubblegum-pink mind-like structures in the robotic images are, in fact, conceptual models or “demonstrations of potential applications” rather than functioning brain-inspired prototypes. Here’s a possible revised version: The image from Cortical Labs provides a more tangible representation of what brain-on-chip architectures might look like in practical applications.

Cortical Labs' "wetware," looking particularly wet after a test session
Cortical Labs’ proprietary “wetware” technology exhibits an intriguingly high level of moisture retention following a typical calibration session.

Cortical Labs

However, if you were to construct a small robot with applicable sensing and motor capabilities, there seems to be little reason why human neurons couldn’t rapidly adapt to drive it, effectively enabling the integration of biological intelligence into artificial systems.

This could be a pivotal moment for scientific innovation, as pioneering projects such as neural interfaces strive to seamlessly integrate high-bandwidth laptop connections directly into the human brain, while groundbreaking initiatives like MetaBOC successfully engineer human mind cells into computing systems; meanwhile, the burgeoning AI industry seeks to revolutionize organic intelligence by crafting an artificial analogue entirely in silicon.

As humanity’s grasp on scientific knowledge approaches its limits, science and technology are compelled to confront philosophical conundrums; do artificial intelligence systems, dubbed “dish-brains,” possess awareness of their existence? Are AIs aware? By harnessing advancements in AI and cognitive technologies, humans may potentially develop machines that exhibit behaviors eerily similar to those of conscious entities within the near term. As soon as that occurs, moral principles and values come into play, necessitating a thorough examination of the situation to determine the most ethical course of action. The fundamental nature of intelligence is a topic of ongoing debate among researchers. While there are distinct differences in the underlying mechanisms that govern organic and silicon-based systems, it is crucial to recognize that these distinctions may not be as stark as initially assumed. In reality, both types of intelligences share commonalities that can facilitate effective communication and even collaboration.

While this notion may seem far-fetched, the evidence suggests that these techniques can indeed cultivate greater awareness, rendering such skepticism unfounded. Is it truly ethically defensible to consult with them at all? Because of our efforts to monitor and care for conscious beings. While acknowledging the complexity of animal consciousness, you note that many people consume meat without trepidation, rationalizing this choice as acceptable.

As technological advancements increasingly blur the lines between human and machine, it’s difficult to conceptualize the notion that we’re actually engineering our own cognitive processes into cybernetic systems capable of intelligent control over machinery.

As humanity hurtles toward a technological singularity in 2024, the pace of progress accelerates at breakneck speed, with AI intelligence poised to surpass human capabilities and raise unforeseen challenges before we’re fully prepared. As technological advancements surge forward at an unprecedented rate, there is a risk that they will accelerate to a point where they become uncontrollable, spinning wildly out of control.

Is this a momentous epoch for sentient life, where we transcend our humble beginnings as a cluster of nascent cells? As far as our collective understanding goes.

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