It is correct that the brain has some fantastci computing powers we cannot mimic yet. It is also correct that the brain rewires to an extent. It is also very robust in that it can sustain substantial damage and still continue to work.
But this has to do with the LOGIC of how the brain works and NOT the MATERIAL.
In order to make our silicon function as the brain we have to understand how the brain functions. And here we're talking about billions of very complex neurons working in parallell. (Even for insect we're talking tens of thousands).
When we understand the logic we can implement it using the best suited technology.
Living neurons are slow.In the human brain the maximum spikerate is 1000 Hz and the conduction velocity through the nerve-fibers are not that much either. (Don't remember the figures, but we're talking about metres per second.) This is much much slower than silicon.
The comparrison between a transistor (2 states) and a neuron (more or less analog) is stupid. We can pack a shitload of transistors into the same space used by a neuron. In addition we don't have to keep the silicon alive.
Silicon can never rewire, but the logic of
rewiring can be implemented.
While the article is interesting, it is not interesting to see a computer built from brain tissue. But the knowledge of creating a computer from brain tissue would probably enable us to build real smart silicon.
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The answer is simple and the reason is general one.
This is new technology with a lot of good properties. Therefore we will find a lot of different ways to utilize this.
Of course it cannot replace todays type of computer technology, we need both kinds.
It is correct that the brain has some fantastci computing powers we cannot mimic yet. It is also correct that the brain rewires to an extent. It is also very robust in that it can sustain substantial damage and still continue to work.
But this has to do with the LOGIC of how the brain works and NOT the MATERIAL.
In order to make our silicon function as the brain we have to understand how the brain functions. And here we're talking about billions of very complex neurons working in parallell. (Even for insect we're talking tens of thousands).
When we understand the logic we can implement it using the best suited technology.
Living neurons are slow.In the human brain the maximum spikerate is 1000 Hz and the conduction velocity through the nerve-fibers are not that much either. (Don't remember the figures, but we're talking about metres per second.) This is much much slower than silicon.
The comparrison between a transistor (2 states) and a neuron (more or less analog) is stupid. We can pack a shitload of transistors into the same space used by a neuron. In addition we don't have to keep the silicon alive.
Silicon can never rewire, but the logic of
rewiring can be implemented.
While the article is interesting, it is not interesting to see a computer built from brain tissue. But the knowledge of creating a computer from brain tissue would probably enable us to build real smart silicon.