Alsadius comments on Who thinks quantum computing will be necessary for AI? - Less Wrong

4 Post author: ChrisHallquist 28 May 2013 10:59PM

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Comment author: Alsadius 29 May 2013 06:17:57PM 0 points [-]

Yeah, I was using the non-adaptive brain as a baseline reducto ad absurdum. Obviously, it's possible to do better - the computing power wasted in the above design would be monumental, and the human brain is not such a model of efficiency that I don't think you can do better by throwing a few extra orders of magnitude at it. But it's something that even an AI skeptic should recognize as a possibility.

Comment author: TheOtherDave 29 May 2013 08:57:41PM 2 points [-]

If we're going to be picky, also the idea that only neurons are relevant isn't right; if you replaced each neuron with a neuron-analog (a chip or a neuron-emulation-in-software or something else) but didn't also replace the non-neuron parts of the cognitive system that mediate neuronal function, you wouldn't have a working cognitive system.
But this is a minor quibble; you could replace "neuron" with "cell" or some similar word to steelman your point.

Comment author: nigerweiss 30 May 2013 01:34:19AM 1 point [-]

Yeah, The glia seem to serve some pretty crucial functions as information-carriers and network support infrastructure - and if you don't track hormonal regulation properly, you're going to be in for a world of hurt. Still, I think the point stands.