Machine Learning Street Talk (MLST)

#59 - Jeff Hawkins (Thousand Brains Theory)

Sep 3, 2021

In this engaging discussion, neuroscientist and entrepreneur Jeff Hawkins, known for his Thousand Brains Theory, joins Connor Leahy to unravel how our brains construct reality through a multitude of models. They dive into the role of the neocortex in intelligence and sensory perception, explore Sparse Distributed Representations and their applications in AI, and highlight the key differences between traditional neural networks and Hawkins' innovative ideas. The conversation also touches on the ethical integration of AI with human values and the philosophical implications of emerging technologies.

02:34:51

Creator website

Episode guests

Connor Leahy

Jeff Hawkins

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

4min

Unveiling the Neocortex

29min

Understanding the Thousand Brains Theory

21min

Neuroscience and AI: A Journey of Understanding

24min

Mapping the Mind: Spatial Encoding in the Brain

10min

Balancing AI Abstraction and Biological Insights

18min

Innovative Roadmap in Machine Learning

4min

Integrating Intelligence: AI and Human Motivation

8min

Philosophical Frontiers of AI

7min

10.

The Evolution of Intelligence

9min

11.

Exploring the Duality of Self: Social and Inner Reflections

3min

12.

Navigating AI: Risks and Perspectives

13min

13.

Exploring Identity and Legacy in Cloning and Communication

5min

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mlst

The ultimate goal of neuroscience is to learn how the human brain gives rise to human intelligence and what it means to be intelligent. Understanding how the brain works is considered one of humanity’s greatest challenges.

Jeff Hawkins thinks that the reality we perceive is a kind of simulation, a hallucination, a confabulation. He thinks that our brains are a model reality based on thousands of information streams originating from the sensors in our body. Critically - Hawkins doesn’t think there is just one model but rather; thousands.

Jeff has just released his new book, A thousand brains: a new theory of intelligence. It’s an inspiring and well-written book and I hope after watching this show; you will be inspired to read it too.

https://numenta.com/a-thousand-brains-by-jeff-hawkins/

https://numenta.com/blog/2019/01/16/the-thousand-brains-theory-of-intelligence/

Panel:

Dr. Keith Duggar https://twitter.com/DoctorDuggar

Connor Leahy https://twitter.com/npcollapse

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