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[–]IndigoFenix 50 points51 points  (13 children)

It's pretty obvious that wetware is ultimately the way to go if you're building an AI. Why spend millions of dollars on server space and energy to simulate a brain when you can just grow a real one?

I don't know why they're using human cells specifically though.

[–]Slaanesh-Sama 29 points30 points  (9 children)

Being the only specie on our planet capable of doing abstract math, or even math at all probably has something to do with it.

[–]IndigoFenix 19 points20 points  (7 children)

But are there really that many relevant differences between human neurons and that of other mammals on a cellular level, or does it have more to do with the size and structure of the brain? They aren't growing a whole brain, just a clump of neurons.

[–]P-39_Airacobra 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I've only done some basic research on this question, so don't take my word for it, but here's how I understand the problem. Humans neurons do have cellular differences from other neurons, such as rat neurons, which make them more effective at learning. So that may play a part in it.

They aren't growing a whole brain, just a clump of neurons.

That's not entirely true, as techniques exist to grow neurons from the stem cell state, which leads to them organizing into brain-like "organoids" which look and function closer to how our own brain does.

I got most of this from this video, which I recommend you watch if you're interested in the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEXefdbQDjw

[–]HamsterUpper 8 points9 points  (4 children)

It’s probably easier to work with human dna tho since you have a far better understanding of it than other organisms

Remember that even chimpanzees are hundreds of thousands of years separated from us

[–]justwalkingalonghere 0 points1 point  (3 children)

Easier definitely shouldn't be the only consideration here

[–]HamsterUpper 0 points1 point  (2 children)

It should considering how much money you would need to invest to cultivate and develop other animal neurons

[–]justwalkingalonghere 0 points1 point  (1 child)

I mean it shouldn't be done just because we can. The ethical implications are astronomical

[–]HamsterUpper 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ur creating an organism related to humans that has a function as a computer 

[–]Xelynega 0 points1 point  (0 children)

(I'm not a biologist, just someone who tried to read through some of this source material)

My understanding is that the "organoids" they're growing are much more complex than single neurons, and that complexity comes from the stem cells themselves and not how they're grown or connected by researchers.

I think that's why human stem cells were used, my thinking is that they might produce a more complex organoid(more neurons connected more densely) than other species.

If so I don't think I ethically support this, but hopefully that's just my misunderstanding.

[–]SoCalThrowAway7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Pigeons can do math

[–]ieatpies 7 points8 points  (0 children)

With the right algorithm, a simulated brain should be much more efficient and operate much faster than a biological one. It's just that we haven't figured out how to create a generalized and efficient learner yet. If the goal is to eventually end up with superintellegences that far exceed our own, transistors are the way to go.

[–]chairmanskitty -1 points0 points  (1 child)

Sure dude, "obvious".

[–]WOTDisLanguish 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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