| Edition |
First edition. |
| Description |
xii, 415 pages ; illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 373-399) and index. |
| Contents |
The basics of human brain anatomy -- Our evolutionary lineage -- Introduction -- The world before brains -- Breakthrough #1: Steering and the first bilaterians. The birth of good and bad -- The origin of emotion -- Associating, predicting, and the dawn of learning -- Breakthrough #2: Reinforcing and the first vertebrates. The Cambrian explosion -- The evolution of temporal difference learning -- The problems of pattern recognition -- Why life got curious -- The first model of the world -- Breakthrough #3: Simulating and the first mammals. The neural dark ages -- Generative models and the neocortical mystery -- Mice in the imaginarium -- Model-based reinforcement learning -- The secret to dishwashing robots -- Breakthrough #4: Mentalizing and the first primates. The arms race for political savvy -- How to model other minds -- Monkey hammers and self-driving cars -- Why rats can't go grocery shopping -- Breakthrough #5: Speaking and the first humans. The search for human uniqueness -- Language in the brain -- The perfect storm -- ChatGPT and the window into the mind -- Conclusion: The sixth breakthrough. |
| Summary |
"In the last decade, the science of understanding the human brain and replicating its most complicated processes through artificial intelligence has grown exponentially. Intricate neurological functions ranging from writing poetry to crafting original articles, arenas that had long been thought of as science fiction, have become our reality. And yet, large gaps remain in what AI can achieve--gaps that, as pioneering artificial intelligence entrepreneur Max Bennett argues compellingly, exist because there is still too much we don't understand about our own brains. Finding these answers requires diving into the long billion-year history of how animal brains emerged from matter; a history filled with countless half-starts, calamities, opportunities, and clever innovations. Not only do our brains have a story to tell--in fact the future of AI depends on it. Now, in A Brief History of Brains, Bennett bridges the gap between neuroscience and AI to tell the brain's evolutionary story, while demonstrating how understanding that story will shape the next generation of great AI breakthroughs. Deploying fresh perspective and lively storytelling, Bennett sheds long overdue light on evolutionary neuroscience, a historically small scientific field that holds the keys to the biggest secrets in AI. Working with support from many of the top minds in the field, Bennett consolidates four billion years into an approachable new model, identifying the Five Breakthroughs that mark the brain's most important evolutionary leaps. As we go back further in time, brains get much simpler and behavior gets much simpler, making it easier to understand these ancient brains and the complexity that emerges at each subsequent iteration. As each breakthrough brings new insight to the biggest mysteries of human development, it also contains fascinating corollaries to developments in AI, showing where our technological skill has matched the brain's evolution and where the missing links continue to hold us back. Indeed, until we understand and embrace every part of our brain's journey, parts of AI--including ones that we need to grow and evolve--will remain elusive. Endorsed and lauded by the brightest and best neuroscientists in the field today, Bennett's work synthesizes the most relevant scientific knowledge and cutting-edge research to create an easy-to-understand and riveting evolutionary story. With sweeping scope and stunning insights, A Brief History of Brains proves that understanding the arc of our brain's history can unlock the tools for successfully navigating our technological future"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Subject |
Brain.
|
|
Brain -- Physiology.
|
|
Intellect.
|
|
Artificial intelligence.
|
|
Evolution (Biology)
|
|
SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Evolution.
|
|
Artificial intelligence (OCoLC)fst00817247
|
|
Brain -- Physiology
(OCoLC)fst00837651
|
|
Computational neuroscience (OCoLC)fst00872004
|
|
Human evolution (OCoLC)fst00963030
|
| ISBN |
9780063286344 (hardcover) |
|
0063286343 (hardcover) |
|
9780063286368 (ebk) |
|
