In this episode, neuroscientist Jeff Hawkins, founder of Numenta and author of 'A Thousand Brains', teams up with Viviane Clay, director of the Thousand Brains Project and cognitive computing expert. They delve into the Thousand Brains Theory, examining the brain's cortical columns and their significance in sensory integration. The duo contrasts this with deep learning, emphasizing a new AI paradigm rooted in human-like learning. They also discuss the concept of affordances, curiosity in technology, and the transformative potential of their findings on our understanding of intelligence.
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insights INSIGHT
Mountcastle's Theory
Mountcastle theorized the neocortex uses a universal algorithm, replicated thousands of times.
Different cortical areas perform different functions, but share the same underlying circuitry.
insights INSIGHT
Neocortical Reprogramming
The neocortex exhibits plasticity, repurposing areas for different functions if one is impaired (e.g., vision to touch).
This adaptability supports Mountcastle's theory of a common algorithm.
insights INSIGHT
Neocortical Layers
The neocortex's six layers contain diverse cell types with complex connectivity, not just six simple layers.
Numenta researchers are identifying the functional roles of these cell types in creating intelligence.
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Jim talks with Jeff Hawkins and Viviane Clay about the Thousand Brains Project and Jeff's book A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence. They discuss Mountcastle's theory of the neocortex's universal algorithm, cortical columns & their structure, learning modules in AI sensory systems, reprogramming of the neocortex, the 6 layers of cortex, mini-columns & macro-columns, the visual cascade, reference frames as essential for knowledge representation, "voting" for perceptual consensus, how the project differs from deep learning & LLM approaches, James Gibson's concept of affordances, the "Jennifer Aniston neuron" idea, current state of the Monty project, solving fundamental problems vs making impressive demos, avoiding "old brain" traits in AI systems, and much more.
Episode Transcript
Perceptual Neuroscience: The Cerebral Cortex, Vernon B. Mountcastle
On Intelligence, Jeff Hawkins and Sandra Blakeslee (2004)
A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence, Jeff Hawkins
Monty Project – Open-Source Implementation
Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies, Nick Bostrom
Jeff Hawkins is a scientist whose life-long interest in neuroscience led to the creation of Numenta and its focus on neocortical theory. His research focuses on how the cortex learns predictive models of the world through sensation and movement. In 2002, he founded the Redwood Neuroscience Institute, where he served as Director for three years. The institute is currently located at U.C. Berkeley. Previously, he co-founded two companies, Palm and Handspring, where he designed products such as the PalmPilot and Treo smartphone. Jeff has written two books, On Intelligence (2004 with Sandra Blakeslee) and A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence (2021).
Viviane Clay is the director of the Thousand Brains Project. She received her doctorate degree in Cognitive Computing and master’s degree in Cognitive Science at University of Osnabrück in Germany, where she focused on sensorimotor learning as a key aspect in intelligence. She brings to Numenta fifteen years of coding experience, along with her background in neuroscience, psychology, and machine learning.
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