NEW: FREE Web3 Resume Cheat Sheet DOWNLOAD NOW

Softbank combining brain cells with tech in bizarre ‘next-generation’ AI experiment

In this post:

  • Japanese multinational investment and holdings firm Softbank is looking to combine stem cell tissue with tech to produce better AI.
  • The company is already engaging in joint research with the University of Tokyo on the project, with aims for practical application around 2050.
  • Softbank’s researchers believe cultured brain cells could reduce the power required for artificial intelligence, and heighten it’s computational abilities.

Tokyo-based investment giant Softbank wants to combine cells created from humans, which mimic brain cells, with traditional technology in an effort to create next generation artificial intelligence (AI). Research is already underway, and a roadmap for development puts 2050 as the start of practical application. 

Regional media from Japan reports that investment and holdings powerhouse Softbank is looking to combine cultured cell tissue with artificial intelligence to create “next generation” AI capabilities and save on energy consumption.

The story, which sounds like something out of a sci-fi thriller, details that the Softbank Research Institute of Advanced Technology is working with The University of Tokyo to “use brain tissue cultured from iPS cells to directly incorporate the energy-saving and flexible learning ability of the human brain into computing.”

Whether this is something credible (if highly controversial) or just a clever way to spend grant money while creating a buzz, is really anyone’s guess. But with the focused, global push from politicians and technocratic corporations for integrating AI into everyday life, and the extreme push to implement AI governance in Japan, the development is noteworthy.

Softbank’s vision for BPU (Brain Processing Units)

The Friday morning (JST) Toyokeizai write-up explains that while large-scale AI operations currently use a lot of power for computation, the human brain typically requires only about 20 watts for everyday thinking and integration of new data. “We aim to realize it as a new accelerator that coexists with conventional CPUs, GPUs, and quantum computers,” Softbank researcher Sota Sugimura is quoted as saying. But, where do the cells come from?

See also  FDIC releases 175 documents on crypto debanking ahead of today's hearing

The so-called “brain cells” are created via iPS cells (induced pluripotent stem cells). Project researchers have created what they call “brain organoids” from these cells, which are spherical in shape and measure about o.5 – 1 centimeter in size, containing nerve cells and glial cells.

Photo depicting “organoids,” which mimic brain tissue, in a combined state. Source: Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo.

According to the report, the organoids have shown reactions to “reward” and “penalty” stimuli, and “a phenomenon that seems to be learning specific to brain cells” was observed. But project researchers note this experiment is still in its early stages, and there are ethical questions to be considered.

Further, Toyokeizai’s Toru Ishii details that the cells often react differently to the same stimulus, as they are derived from living organisms with inherent differences. While Softbank R&D researcher Keisuke Asakura is quoted as comparing the organoids to a “baby’s brain” stage, that seems quite a stretch, as at present the experiment is basically electrifying tiny samples of tissue in the lab. Nothing akin to the ineffably rich cognition, feedback, and creativity of an actual human infant.

As for a roadmap for the project, “SoftBank aims to apply it as a small, energy-saving sensor by around 2030, expand it to robot control and complex motor tasks around 2040, and further develop it into fields that require advanced judgment, such as autonomous driving and creative fields, from 2050 onwards,” the report explains.

See also  President Trump says the Fed was right to stop cutting interest rates

Cryptopolitan Academy: Are You Making These Web3 Resume Mistakes? - Find Out Here

Share link:

Disclaimer. The information provided is not trading advice. Cryptopolitan.com holds no liability for any investments made based on the information provided on this page. We strongly recommend independent research and/or consultation with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.

Most read

Loading Most Read articles...

Stay on top of crypto news, get daily updates in your inbox

Editor's choice

Loading Editor's Choice articles...
Subscribe to CryptoPolitan