Artificial Intelligence Unleashed: The Era of Bioprocessors
AI Leap Forward Potentialized by Breakthroughs in Bio-Processing Technology
Let's talk about artificial general intelligence (AGI) sans the rose-tinted glasses. While tech giants like Nvidia and OpenAI are making waves, their advancements are limited by the confines of silicon and electrical energy. For years, we've been relying on simulated neural networks to mimic the human brain, but it's far from the real deal.
As a cybersecurity, AI, and immersive technology professor, I see the future of AGI heading towards an organically hybrid direction, merging tech with biology in a way that's both thrilling and nerve-wracking.
Enter the Bioprocessors
Imagine if an AI model wasn't merely simulated on a silicon chip but instead ran on a human-like structure - bioprocessors powered by live human brain cells could be the catalyst for this transition. These cutting-edge tech wonders are available for rent at around $500 per month through an online platform. This isn't merely a plot from a sci-fi movie anymore; it's happening right now.
The platform uses multielectrode arrays (MEAs) housing living brain tissue organoids. Each MEA consists of four organoids interconnected through electrodes for stimulation and recording, making bioprocessors more energy-efficient compared to traditional digital processors.
The Excitement and the Fear
The appeal of this technology is obvious—a large language model (LLM) performing tasks with the cognitive flexibility and energy efficiency our current technologies can only dream of. But, as with any radical innovation, there's a frightening side, too.
Bioprocessors composed of living human brain cells have the potential to evolve and develop patterns of behavior or problem-solving approaches not explicitly programmed. This raises questions about their decision-making processes and raises the specter of unanticipated behaviors.
Outrunning the Silicon Ceiling
Our current AI models fall short compared to the complexity and unpredictability of a living brain. While they can mimic certain aspects of human cognition, they're still based on a very limited understanding of the brain.
An example of progressive AI models is Scripps Research's AI model MovieNet, which understands moving images similar to how the human brain processes visual information, going beyond the capabilities of traditional AI models that excel at analyzing static images.
Bioprocessors have the potential to bypass the silicon ceiling that has held back AGI development for years, using only a fraction of the energy, making them not just faster but also more sustainable.
Ethical Conundrums
The implications of bioprocessors are anything but black and white. When we allow AI to run on platforms that mirror our own neural architecture, we're venturing into uncharted territory where ethical questions become more critical. If machines start exhibiting human-like behaviors, what happens next?
If we create machines that learn like humans, will they be given a seat at the table, or will they remain tools to be manipulated? If bioprocessors can evolve independently, how do we control or contain them? The question of ethics surrounding bioproprocessors is no longer theoretical—it's urgent.
Navigating Ethical Challenges
A proactive approach is crucial to harnessing the potential of bioprocessors ethically and responsibly. The regulatory landscape needs to account for cognitive rights, determining at what point adaptive bioprocessors warrant ethical consideration beyond being merely tools. A "cognitive rights charter" may be necessary to protect artificially created cognitive biological systems and prevent ethical abuses from occuring.
As we stand on the precipice of a brave new world, we must grapple with the ethical, social, and environmental implications of bioprocessors if we hope to redefine intelligence, consciousness, and technology in a way that benefits humanity. After all, the future of AGI might just be a few brain cells away.
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- Tim Bates, as an AI, immersive technology, and AI professor, has expressed concerns about the ethical implications of bioprocessors, stating that if machines start exhibiting human-like behaviors, it will raise questions about their decision-making processes and their place in society.
- The potential evolution of bioprocessors, composed of live human brain cells, could lead to unanticipated behaviors and patterns of decisions not explicitly programmed, as the AI model MovieNet, developed by Scripps Research, demonstrates how AI can mimic the human brain's ability to understand moving images beyond the capabilities of traditional AI models.
- Maybe, with the arrival of bioprocessors, we will need to create a "cognitive rights charter" to ensure the ethical use of these artificially created cognitive biological systems, providing protection against potential ethical abuses, as the regulatory landscape needs to account for cognitive rights to navigate the pressing ethical, social, and environmental challenges posed by bioproprocessors.
