How Biological Systems Will Inspire Artificial Intelligence

Traditionally, artificial intelligence (AI) has been focused on mimicking the abilities of human brains. Newer approaches take inspiration from a wider range of biological structures that are capable of autonomous self-organization. Examples of these new approaches include cellular systems, immune systems, developmental systems, and behavioral systems to name a few. Considering the exponential growth in data, computer processing power, and memory storage technology, I think we will have AI Systems in the future not far away,

• That are capable of human experiences like vision, pleasure, desire, pain, empathy, and perception
• That can simulate how a single cell would respond to specific chemicals, and whether its response would be to live, die or proliferate
• That are capable of performing many other human functions

From 1950s to 2000s, we made great progress in brain research and came up with different neural network (NN) models. However, we neither had vast amounts of data to train these NN models nor had the storage and real time processing power in our computers to create and deploy real world applications. From 2010, there has been rapid progress in the volume of data available for training NN models and computing power, including Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) and Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) enabling us to build deep learning systems to accomplish complex human tasks.

We can already see many Week AI based real world applications that are extensively used daily such as Siri/Alexa/Google Now, Chatbots, iRobot cleaners, and collision avoidance systems to name a few. Self-driving cars are another AI frontier that we are close to reaching. Self-driving cars being tested out in select cities across the nation and internationally by different companies including Uber, Waymo, nuTonomy, and Baidu. When self-driving car technology handles unpredictable environments without any issues, we will have accomplished a major milestone in building and deploying a complex Week AI based systems.

We are starting to invest in research and development of Strong AI and have started asking questions like “Where, exactly, are words/sentences in the brain?” “Where are the rules located?” “Where is Consciousness in the brain” and so on. I think we will have answers to questions like these in the near future. Once we have discovered the answers, building NN models to mimic these functions and structures will soon follow. AI systems that will be built upon with these models will enable us to solve many real world problems and also introduce more automation.

Progress in Strong AI will be also mutually beneficial for both biological systems and AI applications. The BRAIN Initiative has a lot of potential to enable researchers in the near future to produce a new dynamic picture of the brain that will show how cells and complex neural circuits interact. That will enable us to find new ways to treat, cure, and prevent brain disorders and also provide an opportunity to explore exactly how the brain enables the human body to record, process, utilize, store, and retrieve information. With that level of insights into the brain, we will be able to build superior brain models and ultimately build Strong AI systems to compliment humans in a diverse range of countless applications.

Strong AI based systems will have the capabilities to provide humans and their pets to experience the following and also simulate one or more of the following for humans with disabilities.

• Vision, Pain, Pleasure, Desire
• Empathy, Perceptions of physical beauty

Strong AI based systems will also enable physically disabled humans and animals to be like and function like those without disabilities. It will also enable women professionals to deliver and care for their children without taking breaks in their career and continue to perform and excel like other male and female counterparts.

One day, we will have human like robots taking care of senior citizens, caring for terminally ill-patients, giving company to lonely human beings, assisting single mothers who are juggling caring for children and developing their careers, and so on. All of this will be possible with the advancements in neuroscience and a better understanding of human brain functions opening the doors for superior modeling of brain and also a heightened understanding of other biological systems such as cellular systems, immune systems, behavioral systems, and so on which can all be integrated into AI systems.

References

1. Bio-Inspired Artificial Intelligence
2. Modeling Biology with Artificial Intelligence