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Computer chip with built-in human brain tissue gets military funding

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Summary

Scientists at Monash University have created a "DishBrain" computer chip with 800,000 human and mouse brain cells grown into its electrodes. It can play Pong and has attracted a US$407,000 grant from Australia's National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grants program. The chip could potentially lead to a new generation of machine learning for autonomous vehicles, drones, and robots with advanced learning capabilities and an ability to map old knowledge onto new situations. The grant will be used to develop better AI machines that can replicate the learning capacity of biological neural networks.

Q&As

What is the 'DishBrain' created by Monash University scientists?
The 'DishBrain' is a semi-biological computer chip with some 800,000 human and mouse brain cells lab-grown into its electrodes.

What does the DishBrain demonstrate?
The DishBrain demonstrates something like sentience, it learned to play Pong within five minutes.

What has the DishBrain attracted?
The DishBrain has attracted a US$407,000 grant from Australia's National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grants program.

What are the implications of this research?
The implications of this research are significant across multiple fields such as, but not limited to, planning, robotics, advanced automation, brain-machine interfaces, and drug discovery.

What is the aim of this grant?
The aim of this grant is to develop better AI machines that replicate the learning capacity of these biological neural networks.

AI Comments

👍 This new advancement in technology is incredible! The development of DishBrain has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about machine learning and robotics. It's exciting to think about the potential of this technology and the advantages it could bring.

👎 It's concerning that this technology is being funded by the military. This could result in the development of artificial intelligence and robots being used in warfare, raising ethical questions about the use of this technology.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about how scientists at Monash University created a computer chip with some 800,000 human and mouse brain cells lab-grown into its electrodes that can learn to play Pong within five minutes. It's so impressive that it's attracted a US$407,000 grant from Australia's National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grants program.

Friend: Wow, that's incredible! What implications do you think this could have?

Me: Well, this technology could potentially be used to create machines with advanced learning capabilities, such as autonomous vehicles, drones, and robots. The machines could be programmed to learn new abilities without compromising old ones, and they could also adapt well to changing environments. There's also the potential for this technology to be used in brain-machine interfaces, drug discovery, and other fields, which could give Australia a significant strategic advantage.

Action items

Research the potential applications of the DishBrain technology and how it could be used in the military.
Explore the implications of the DishBrain technology for the development of autonomous vehicles, drones, and robots.
Investigate the potential of the DishBrain technology to create machines that can learn new abilities without compromising old ones.

Technical terms

Computer chip: A small piece of semiconductor material, usually made of silicon, that contains a large number of transistors and other electronic components.
Human brain tissue: Tissue from the brain of a human being, typically used in research or medical applications.
Semi-biological computer chip: A computer chip that has been modified to include some biological components, such as human or mouse brain cells.
Micro-electrode array: A device consisting of a number of small electrodes, typically used to measure electrical activity in the brain.
Stimulus: An external event or influence that causes a response in an organism or system.
Reward system: A system of incentives or rewards used to motivate behavior.
Autonomous vehicles: Vehicles that are capable of sensing their environment and navigating without human input.
Drones: Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are controlled remotely or autonomously.
Robotics: The science and technology of designing, constructing, and operating robots.
Brain-machine interfaces: Systems that allow a person to control a machine or computer using their thoughts.
Drug discovery: The process of identifying and developing new drugs.
Artificial intelligence: The ability of a computer or machine to learn and think like a human.