Can AI Be Smarter Than Humans? Well, AI Is Starting To Think Like A Human Brain

Artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly. Machines are becoming smarter and smarter. But can they become better than their creator? AI can solve many problems more quickly than humans, but on many levels, it still lags behind. Despite its vast computing power and access to the zillions of bits of information coded into its database, AI lacks the complexities of human brain processing. We humans learn from our surroundings and adapt to the situation. But now, AI is being trained to do exactly the same thing.

Scientists at University College London (UCL) are trying to teach AI something it lacks. UCL's Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience has shown that AI can explain exactly how our memories work, how we relive old experiences, and how we can look at our birthday pictures and remember the specific moment when the cake was cut or who the guests were.

HOW DOES THE HUMAN BRAIN PROCESS INFORMATION?

The study, published in the Nature Human Behaviour journal, focuses on the hippocampus and neocortex, the two regions of the human brain that specialize in memory, imagination, and planning. The hippocampus, a tiny seahorse-shaped region, plays a crucial role in the formation and consolidation of new memories. From our childhood memories, the smell of rain, the winning shot of our favorite player, or the lullaby of our grandparents, everything is neatly stored in our mental library. The hippocampus works in tandem with the neocortex and cortex and makes up approximately half the volume of the human brain. It is responsible for the neuronal computation of attention, thought, and perception.

TRAINING AI TO LEARN HOW THE BRAIN WORKS

The researchers at UCL have created an AI model mimicking the hippocampus and neocortex network. The model was shown 10,000 everyday scenes, like a child in a park, a kitchen, a classroom, and a farmer. The information was then replayed to train the generative neural network mimicking the neocortex. The model remixed these images, creating new imagery and meaning, essentially replicating how the human brain uses such information.

WHAT MAKES THE STUDY INTERESTING?

The human brain remains an enigma, and now, with the help of AI, we can see in real-time how neurological functions actually work. These studies can help us understand how our memories are stored and replayed. This could assist neurologists in helping people with memory problems. Also, by learning how the brain computes and processes data, we can help AI solve complex problems with ease. In essence, AI is like a telescope peering through the depths of the human brain; the better it becomes, the deeper it can look, helping us expand our understanding. In doing so, AI is also developing and mimicking the way the human mind functions.

If nurtured nicely, machines can become potential collaborators, helping humans take the next exponential leap. Obviously, there are gray areas. What happens when such a highly developed tool is used for sinister purposes? The other lingering doubt, as glamorized in science fiction movies, is, will the machines turn their backs on us?