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Darpa Wants Brain Implants That Record from 1M Neurons

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Re: Darpa Wants Brain Implants That Record from 1M Neurons

#11

Post by kirykl »

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #2

If you were offered the chance to become as intelligent as Feynman but only if you turn over a copy of all your future thoughts to the private business that made this possible, would you take it? Something non-invasive, like a computer that images your brain while you sleep. If we are machines, then it seems reasonable that within a few millennia we might have this capability. I'm trying to think up some scenarios wh…

People already essentially turn their brains over to businesses today, without such grand promises of intelligence or immortality.

Its actually maybe even a pretty accurate description of religion

Re: Darpa Wants Brain Implants That Record from 1M Neurons

#12

Post by aquadrop »

bognition wrote: post #9
aquadrop wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you were offered the chance to become as intelligent as Feynman but only if you turn over a copy of all your future thoughts to the private business that made this possible, would you take it? Something non-invasive, like a computer that images your brain while you sleep. No. If you were offered wings so you could fly, but in exchange you must spend rest of your life in a cage, would you take it?

Honestly it would depend on the size of the cage.

2x2x2 meter cage.

Re: Darpa Wants Brain Implants That Record from 1M Neurons

#13

Post by amelius »

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #2

If you were offered the chance to become as intelligent as Feynman but only if you turn over a copy of all your future thoughts to the private business that made this possible, would you take it? Something non-invasive, like a computer that images your brain while you sleep. If we are machines, then it seems reasonable that within a few millennia we might have this capability. I'm trying to think up some scenarios wh…

> If you were offered the chance to become as intelligent as Feynman but only if you turn over a copy of all your future thoughts to the private business that made this possible, would you take it?

"And, my students, if we equate both expressions, then, ... ahem, by the way, do you know how easy it is to get a brain extension from Acme Corp?"

Re: Darpa Wants Brain Implants That Record from 1M Neurons

#14

Post by jlebrech »

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #2

If you were offered the chance to become as intelligent as Feynman but only if you turn over a copy of all your future thoughts to the private business that made this possible, would you take it? Something non-invasive, like a computer that images your brain while you sleep. If we are machines, then it seems reasonable that within a few millennia we might have this capability. I'm trying to think up some scenarios wh…

yes I would download all the knowledge I could into offline storage and only connect for updates.

Re: Darpa Wants Brain Implants That Record from 1M Neurons

#15

Post by xxSparkleSxx »

jahabrewer wrote: post #3

> when people read aloud or read silently to themselves the neural signal in the superior temporal gyrus can be used to reconstruct the words How long until counter-interrogation techniques include not even thinking about what you want to conceal?

This is a thought that's been floating around in my head for too long and probably doesn't exactly fit here but oh well.

Isn't language a bit of a proxy for what we are actually trying to communicate? As in the statement "Yesterday, I saw a yellow bus" the are millions of shades of yellow, different bus styles, and of course different times of day and different scenery in which you could have seen that bus.

Is it possible to convey that picture of the yellow bus (wherever and whenever you happened to see it) through a level of communication below typical "language." Is it possible to reconstruct thoughts that have not been put into explicit words? Additionally, if we were able to do this and do it in both ways (sending/receiving) would a Chinese speaker and English speaker be able to communicate without learning a new spoken language?

Re: Darpa Wants Brain Implants That Record from 1M Neurons

#16

Post by emiliobumachar »

kirykl wrote: post #11
sillysaurus3 wrote: post #2

If you were offered the chance to become as intelligent as Feynman but only if you turn over a copy of all your future thoughts to the private business that made this possible, would you take it? Something non-invasive, like a computer that images your brain while you sleep. If we are machines, then it seems reasonable that within a few millennia we might have this capability. I'm trying to think up some scenarios wh…

People already essentially turn their brains over to businesses today, without such grand promises of intelligence or immortality. Its actually maybe even a pretty accurate description of religion

Religion does make a grand promise of immortality.

Re: Darpa Wants Brain Implants That Record from 1M Neurons

#17

Post by mindcrime »

bkmartin wrote: post #7
aquadrop wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If you were offered the chance to become as intelligent as Feynman but only if you turn over a copy of all your future thoughts to the private business that made this possible, would you take it? Something non-invasive, like a computer that images your brain while you sleep. No. If you were offered wings so you could fly, but in exchange you must spend rest of your life in a cage, would you take it?

Would it then become important for that business to give these minds that would not make them feel trapped and caged? Wouldn't the quality of results be hampered if lots of suffering were to occur? Could the mind at some point become useless since it would be drowned in depressive, cyclical, and often illogical thought? That, too, would create a research point, but would be pretty inhumane and I would hope an ethics…

Would it then become important for that business to give these minds that would not make them feel trapped and caged?

Sounds like a more reasonable basis for the genesis of the Matrix than what was portrayed in the movie. :-)

Re: Darpa Wants Brain Implants That Record from 1M Neurons

#18

Post by EGreg »

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #2

If you were offered the chance to become as intelligent as Feynman but only if you turn over a copy of all your future thoughts to the private business that made this possible, would you take it? Something non-invasive, like a computer that images your brain while you sleep. If we are machines, then it seems reasonable that within a few millennia we might have this capability. I'm trying to think up some scenarios wh…

A more interesting question is, what if you wake up one day as one of 10 copies of yourself?

Would you today be worried about preserving the life of all 10 clones (with memories)?

We are all afraid to die - but what if tomorrow there were clones with the memories you have today?

The question basically is posed here

http://existentialcomics.com/comic/1

Re: Darpa Wants Brain Implants That Record from 1M Neurons

#19

Post by QuantumGravy »

jahabrewer wrote: post #3

> when people read aloud or read silently to themselves the neural signal in the superior temporal gyrus can be used to reconstruct the words How long until counter-interrogation techniques include not even thinking about what you want to conceal?

If everyone has similar memories to conceal, problem solved. Who's ready to sign up for Total Recall style memory implants?

Re: Darpa Wants Brain Implants That Record from 1M Neurons

#20

Post by captainmuon »

sillysaurus3 wrote: post #2

If you were offered the chance to become as intelligent as Feynman but only if you turn over a copy of all your future thoughts to the private business that made this possible, would you take it? Something non-invasive, like a computer that images your brain while you sleep. If we are machines, then it seems reasonable that within a few millennia we might have this capability. I'm trying to think up some scenarios wh…

I think we should really fix society before we develop that kind of technology. We need a socio-cultural breaktrough of the same magnitude as the technological breakthrough. Something on par with the development of monotheism, enlightenment, capitalism, or democracy. A "communistic" utopia (for lack of a better word) without the flaws of its historical implementations. Then the question is moot. There is no private business, or indeed any other entity, government or private, that you would make such a deal with. There is no second party that wants to withhold technology, or steal your thoughts. Rather it will be "From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs" - you get the augmentation for free, and you contribute what you feel comfortable sharing back to society.

Often, utopia is portrayed as the result of a technolocial breakthrough, sometimes "if we could read each others thoughts there would be no misunderstanding and conflict". I believe it is the other way around - utopia is a precondition for singularity-type technology. At least, if we want it to be beneficial and not hellish.

Brain implants are easy, communism is going to be hard.

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