A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence
by Jeff Hawkins
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3:50
Core ideas of the book, explained in animated format
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Apr, 2022
Spoiler:
In order to create intelligent machines, we need first to understand how our brains work. The neocortex is composed of about 150,000 units called cortical columns, each about the size of a grain of rice. These work together to create models of the world that help us perceive it. The thousand brains theory proposes that the cortical columns essentially “vote” to create a single model of, for example, a coffee cup, from the multiple sensory inputs coming from our skin, eyes, and other senses.
8:26
Numenta employee chats via video with author about brain theory
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Feb, 2021
Spoiler:
The author says his research team at Numenta has made great strides toward understanding how the brain functions and that much of that work has been published in scientific journals not read by the general public. He wanted to write a book to give a broader audience access to Numenta’s work. The book deals in part with the implications of his work on artificial intelligence, which he says is not yet “intelligent.” He adds that our intelligence— and nothing else—is what makes humans unique.
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Author gives keynote talk via video call with slides
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Jun, 2021
Spoiler:
The neocortex is the organ of intelligence; reverse-engineering to understand how it works will help humans build smarter machines. The author says the neocortex does not function as a single centralized processor but rather as a network of interconnected mini-brains, or cortical columns (sets of neurons arranged in columnar fashion). These collaborate to build and constantly update models of the world; these models enable perception and intelligent behavior.
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