Archive for December, 2008
IBM to build global brain
In an effort to help those in power make split second decisions IBM is building a brain to help put together disparate pieces of information to aid in those decisions.
In an unprecedented undertaking, IBM Research and five leading universities are partnering to create computing systems that are expected to simulate and emulate the brain’s abilities for sensation, perception, action, interaction and cognition while rivaling its low power consumption and compact size.
The digital data explosion shows no signs of slowing down — according to analyst firm IDC, the amount of digital data is growing at a mind-boggling 60 percent each year, giving businesses access to incredible new streams of information. But without the ability to monitor, analyze and react to this information in real-time, the majority of its value may be lost. Until the data is captured and analyzed, decisions or actions may be delayed. Cognitive computing offers the promise of systems that can integrate and analyze vast amounts of data from many sources in the blink of an eye, allowing businesses or individuals to make rapid decisions in time to have a significant impact. . . IBM seeks to build the computer of the future based on insights from the brain
More information:
Dharmendra Modha home page
IBM seeks to build the computer of the future based on insights from the brain (pdf)
Systems of neuromorphic adaptive plastic scalable electronics ( SyNAPSE )
Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics
Cognitive Computing Project Aims to Reverse Engineer the Mind
Darpa’s Gandalf first to start to use smart mobile phones for AI
Now that the phone in your pocket is a full computer with an always on internet connection life is about to change. In the same way that any algorithms can solve complex problems with many agents each of which is not so bright, so can lots of cell phone micro computers.
From the little bit of information Darpa has made public it looks like they are hoping to form a system, like the one in the Batman movie, that will allow them to locate a specific person or item of interest.
If you are interested in artificial intelligence, you should be learning how to write code for these mobile computers. for they are the future of the internet and artificial intelligence.
Your phone is about to become part of the smart swarm.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVE: The Gandalf program is an advanced technology and development and demonstration program that is seeking solutions to the functions of radio frequency (RF) geolocation and emitter identification using specific emitter identification (SEI) for specific signals of interest. The ultimate goal of the Gandalf program is to enable a set of handheld devices to be utilized to perform RF geolocation and SEI on RF signals of interest to the Gandalf program. The specific goals and performance objectives associated with RF geolocation and SEI for the Gandalf system are classified. It is anticipated that DARPA-BAA-09-04 for the Gandalf Program will be released prior to the Industry Day.
When released, the BAA will be found on the FedBizOpps website,http://www.fedbizopps.gov . . .
read more (pdf)
Will robots be more ethical on the battlefield than humans?
When troops get stressed bad decisions can be made. If you have a programmed bot, it is not subject to stress and will follow the rules we give it. Much controversy is beginning to take place in this subject.
In the heat of battle, their minds clouded by fear, anger or vengefulness, even the best-trained soldiers can act in ways that violate the Geneva Conventions or battlefield rules of engagement. Now some researchers suggest that robots could do better.
“My research hypothesis is that intelligent robots can behave more ethically in the battlefield than humans currently can,” said Ronald C. Arkin, a computer scientist at Georgia Tech, who is designing software for battlefield robots under contract with the Army. “That’s the case I make.”
Robot drones, mine detectors and sensing devices are already common on the battlefield but are controlled by humans. Many of the drones in Iraq and Afghanistan are operated from a command post in Nevada. Dr. Arkin is talking about true robots operating autonomously, on their own. . . read more
More information:
Governing Lethal Behavior: Embedding Ethics in a Hybrid Deliberative/Reactive Robot Architecture (pdf)
The Hastings Center, nonpartisan research into bioethics
Colin Allen home page
Ronald Arkin home page