A neural network is designed in the image of the human brain. Each neuron is essentially making a tiny calculation and passing that on to the next neurons. When it's learning to recognize a cat, for instance, researchers have done work where they can show where particular neurons are learning parts of a cat. There are clusters of neurons that actually learn what the nose looks like or what the curve of the ear is. And then this all comes together when it comes to recognizing the cat as a whole.
Imagine a world where AI is everywhere — where self-driving cars roam the streets and chatbots can do your homework. Oh, wait. That world already exists. This is exciting news for some. For others, it's slightly terrifying. Whichever camp you fall into, there are two questions we should all be asking: Where is this technology going? And what will happen if we let it develop unchecked? For answers, we turn to Cade Metz, a tech reporter at the New York Times and author of "Genius Makers: The Mavericks Who Brought AI to Google, Facebook, and the World."
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• This episode first aired in June 2021.
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