IBM unveils chips that mimic the human brain

08-18-2011 • www.computing.co.uk

IBM has unveiled a new experimental computer chip that it says mimics the human brain in that it perceives, acts and even thinks.

It terms the machines built with these chips "cognitive computers", claiming that they are able to learn through experience, find patterns, generate ideas and understand the outcomes.

In building this new generation of chip, IBM combined principles of nanoscience, neuroscience and supercomputing.

It has been awarded $21m (£12.7m) of new funding by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the next phase of the project, which it terms "Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics" (SyNAPSE).

2 Comments in Response to IBM unveils chips that mimic the human brain

Comment by David Jackson

Entered on: 8/20/2011 12:28:57 PM

Yet another financial scam!

Of course, this is all for the good of mankind! Can you say, "The check is in the mail"?

Hell...The human brain can't even mimic the human brain! I thought we were through with this voodoo when they quit making "Star Trek" movies.

Comment by PureTrust

Entered on: 8/18/2011 9:51:11 AM

In the article:
"A cognitive computing system monitoring the world's water supply could contain a network of sensors and actuators that constantly record and report metrics such as temperature, pressure, wave height, acoustics and ocean tide, and issue tsunami warnings based on its decision making," said IBM in a statement.

Notice the approach, to take away freedom. It's a long way away. Will never work out right.

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