15 Dec 2016

The Great AI Awakening : The New York Times

Lewis-Kraus has produced an insightful article detailing the recent success of Google Translate and how this was achieved through the Google Brain Project. The article discusses how Google has reorganised itself around A.I.  The article takes the reader through the theory and history of A.I and how Google has positioned themselves as A.I leaders or "A.I. first"

Read more...
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/14/magazine/the-great-ai-awakening.html?_r=0



13 Dec 2016

Cognification: The Second Industrial Revolution

An enlightening talk by Kevin Kelly. He claims that one trend we can guarantee is that we are destined to make things smarter and smarter. We tend to think of intelligence as progressive, although this he claims is incorrect. Kelly believes intelligence is more like a 'symphony' suggesting there are different types of intelligence varying in strengths; variations of cognition exist. Where some types of smartness can be made greater than ours and others will not be. For example, the GPS is smarter than ourselves in getting to a location, as it is not thinking like humans. In the sense that, the GPS is consciousness free, and therefore not distracted as the human can be. Kelly states that 'AI is a new commodity' and the second industrial revolution is going to take X and add AI.

http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_kelly_how_ai_can_bring_on_a_second_industrial_revolution?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button__2016-12-13


16 Aug 2016

Cognitive Implants: Will this be the surgury of the future?

Johnson and his team at KerNEL are another bio / software startup leading the way in making a neurological implant that is aimed at assisting humans to keep up with the machine, by improving ‘intelligence, memory and other cognitive tasks'. In achieving this humans will be kept at the foreground of intelligence and at the same time according to Johnson 'dramatically' improve our lives.

Read more:
http://www.watoday.com.au/technology/technology-news/putting-a-computer-in-your-brain-is-no-longer-science-fiction-20160815-gqt94v.html


31 Jul 2016

Philosophy: Not a competitor to the sciences

Take a look at Think Big’s interview with Rebecca Newberger Goldstien author of ‘Plato at The Googleplex: Why Philosophy Won't Go Away’. She discusses her thoughts on ‘philosophy-jeering’ and explains the continued relevance of philosophy to the sciences. Newberger Goldstien argues that philosophy is not a competitor to science but instead plays a valuable role in examining our world of inconsistencies. Newberger Goldstien claims that philosophers since Socrates are in business of maximising coherence. Furthermore this intellectual work that philosophy undertakes is valuable to the sciences that values truth finding.


Read the full article here:
http://bigthink.com/errors-we-live-by/why-are-scientists-philosophers-fighting-again


29 Apr 2016

A Bionic Brain: Australia’s position

Another informative Conversation piece from Andrew Barron at Macquarie University discussing the future of neuroscience globally and Australia’s position in this field. The article discusses advances in technology and interdisciplinary cooperation that is transforming neuroscience which has led to the burgeoning field of ‘connectomics’. The most exciting thought from this article is that the development of a bionic brain could become a reality before long with billions of dollars being pumped into brain research initiatives across the US and Europe.


Read more here:
https://theconversation.com/its-time-to-build-a-bionic-brain-for-smarter-research-23435


27 Apr 2016

All in the Mind: Australian Neurolaw Database

The ABC series ‘All in the Mind’ features different topics each week that relate to research in understanding how the mind works. A recent edition discussed the newly launched ‘Australian Neurolaw Database’ that Macquarie University’s Centre for Agency, Values and Ethics is jointly running with the University of Sydney. Whilst this article provides Stephen Morses’ view that behavioural evidence is ‘much more directly relevant’ it is argued neurolaw may have future applications in providing better rehabilitation outcomes.

To read more:
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/allinthemind/can-neurolaw-change-the-criminal-justice-system/7323610

Introduction: Our Blog spot

The Think Creative team have a passion for artificial intelligence, machine learning, cognitive science, neuroscience and philosophy of the mind. Advancements in these fields have provided invaluable insight for the next generation of systems and information technology. Our blog is a space for us to share important research and discoveries in these and related areas.

The first link that Think Creative would like to share comes from Colin Klein and Andrew Barron from Macquarie University Sydney and overviews their insights into phenomenal consciousness. Their research is taking on a new way of thinking about the study of consciousness. Philosophy has often used a behaviourist approach to recognize consciousness in others, yet this of course is limiting. Studying the structures of the brains of bees however has uncovered a potential that they may also have a first person perspective.

Read more on their Conversation article:
https://theconversation.com/what-it-is-like-to-be-a-bee-insects-can-teach-us-about-the-origins-of-consciousness-57792