Brainmakers: How Scientists Are Moving Beyond Computers to Create a Rival to the Human Brain - Hardcover

Freedman, David H.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0671760793 ISBN 13: 9780671760793

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 1994

Synopsis

An illuminating, lucid account of scientific work on artificial intelligence explores the groundbreaking research being done in robotics and neuroscience, showing how thinking machines may surpass the human brain's powers. 30,000 first printing. Tour.

About this title

From the Back Cover

Join David Freedman as he takes you on a fascinating tour behind the scenes at laboratories around the world as top researchers race to create revolutionary "thinking machines" that may one day lead to a new form of intelligence.

The subject of fantasy and skepticism for centuries-- from William James's mechanical bride to 2001's Hal to Star Wars' R2D2-- artificial intelligence has been limited to number-crunching computers that are"smart" only in highly specific domains like chess-- until now. "Brainmakers" is an eye-opening, mind-expanding, and mind-blowing journey through laboratories engaged in cutting-edge research into neuro-science and robotics. Inside, you'll discover:

MIT's Attila, a 3.6-pound, six-legged robot that learns as it interacts with its surroundings.

Japan's efforts to grow brain cells on chips and construct a "wiring diagram" of the human brain

UCLA's "robot farm", where robots will be "bred" for intelligence.

In exciting yet accessible detail, Freedman shows how this research has moved into a new realm that transcends computer science, combining neuroscience, mircobiology, evolutionary biology, and zoology. Modeled after natural rather than artificial intelligence, thinking machines may soon develop powers that rival-- or exceed-- those of the human brain.

About the Author

David H. Freedman is a contributing editor for Inc. Magazine, and has written on science, business, and technology for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Science, Wired, and many other publications. His newest book, Wrong, about why experts keep failing us, came out in June, 2010. His last book (coauthored) was A Perfect Mess, about the useful role of disorder in daily life, business, and science. He is also the author of books about the US Marines, computer crime, and artificial intelligence. Freedman's blog, "Making Sense of Medicine," takes a close, critical look at medical findings making current headlines with an eye to separating out the frequent hype. He lives near Boston.

Edition details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0671760793
• ISBN 13: 9780671760793
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1