Artificial Intelligence - Assignment Example

If The Brain Is a Computer and the Mind Its Workings Brain emulation is the process called mind transfer. It is the hypothetical process of transferring or copying a conscious mind from a brain to a non-biological substrate, where with the help scanning and mapping a biological brain in detail and copying its state into a computer system or another computational device. For this we need a computer simulation model that could behave same as an original brain for all practical purposes. This stimulated mind can be linked to virtual reality by the help of 3D (three dimensional) stimulated model (Matthew, 2005).

Alternatively, the simulated mind could be assumed to reside in a computer or connected to a robot or a biological body, replacing its brain. The following paragraphs will discuss various characteristics of this concept:Consciousness and the Natural WorldA human brain consists of about 100 billion nerve cells called neurons, each individually linked to other neurons by way of connection called axons and dendrites. The signals of these connections are transmitted by the release and detection of chemicals known as neurotransmitters.

This is established by neuroscience that the human mind is an information processing network with the help of neurons (Kurzweil, 2000).Neuroscientists have also stated that essential functions performed by the mind, such as learning, memorizing, and consciousness, are due to purely physical and electrochemical processes in the brain which are governed by applicable laws. Benefits of Such DiscoveryIf the information and processes of the mind can be separated from the biological body, then there will be no individual limits and lifespan of that body.

Other than that information within a brain could be partly or wholly copied or transferred to one or more other subjects, which includes digital storage or another brain, thereby minimizing or eliminating mortality risk (Tonnoni & Koch, 2008).A computer-based intelligence program could potentially think much faster than a human. Human neurons transfer’s electrochemical signals with a maximum speed of about 150 meters per second, whereas the speed of light is about 300 million meters per second, it is about two million times faster.

Also, neurons can generate a maximum of about 200 to 1000 "spikes" per second, whereas the number of signals per second in modern computer chips is about 3 GHz (Matthew, 2005). This is almost two million times greater and expected to increase by at least a factor of 100. In theory it could run about 1 million times faster than a real brain, experiencing about a year of subjective time in only 31 seconds of real time (Nick & Andres, 2008).Mind uploading possesses potential benefits for space travel because it would allow immortal beings to travel the space.

A society of all mind uploads can be accumulated on a computer for which a small space ship can be used, which will be much more fuel efficient and will be able to travel more than biological humans. These uploads will have the control of the ship and will be able to make decisions about the journeys in space in real time, which are independent of signals from Earth, which usually take months or years to reach the space craft (Llinas, 2007). ConclusionThe concept of machine based uploading is advocated by various researchers in the field of neurology and artificial intelligence, due to the above mentioned advantages.

But while keeping in view the advantages, possible shortcomings of this adaption must be evaluated and it impact on normal human life could also not be ignored.List of ReferencesHerper, Matthew, 2005. IBM Aims To Simulate A Brain. [Online] Available at: http://www.forbes.com/technology/sciences/2005/06/06/cx_mh_0606ibm.html [Accessed 10 February 2013]Tonnoni, G. & Koch, C. 2008. Can machines be conscious?. [Online] Available at: http://m.spectrum.ieee.org/biomedical/imaging/can-machines-be-conscious/0Andres, S.

& Nick, B. 2008. Whole brain emulation: A roadmap. [Online] Available at: http://www.philosophy.ox.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/3853/brain-emulation-roadmap-report.pdfLlinas, R. 2007. Enter the “I” of the vortex. [Online] Available at: http://thesciencenetwork.org/programs/the-science-studio/enter-the-i-of-the-vortexKurzweil, R. 2000. Live forever – Uploading the human brain…Closer than you think [Online] Available at: http://rense.com/ufo6/live.htm