The Self-Assembling Brain: How Neural Networks Grow Smarter

Neurobiology and artificial intelligence explore how the brain builds itself. Both fields investigate the necessary information to create an intelligent neural network. Peter Robin Hiesinger's book "The Self-Assembling Brain" discusses the challenges facing scientists, their disciplinary perspectives, and the common ground shared by those interested in developing biological brains and AI systems. He argues that the information content of biological and artificial neural networks must unfold in an algorithmic process requiring time and energy.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 13 December 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

The intricate process of how the brain develops and functions is a subject of intense study in the fields of neurobiology and artificial intelligence. Neurobiologists seek to understand the biological mechanisms underlying brain development, while computer scientists aim to replicate these processes through technology. The Self-Assembling Brain, a book by Peter Robin Hiesinger, explores the historical and contemporary approaches taken by these scientists to unravel the mystery of how an intelligent neural network is created.

At the heart of this inquiry lies the concept of "the information problem." Hiesinger argues that both neurobiology and artificial intelligence are driven by the need to understand what information is necessary to build an intelligent neural network. He explores the genetic information that unfolds during human brain development and investigates whether there are faster or more efficient ways to achieve human-level artificial intelligence.

Hiesinger also delves into the debate surrounding the biological brain's nature. Some argue that it is merely a complex system of messy hardware that can be improved through the application of learning algorithms on computers. Others suggest that AI can bypass the evolutionary programming of "grown" networks and achieve intelligence through different means.

Through a series of fictional discussions between researchers from various disciplines, complemented by in-depth seminars, Hiesinger examines these closely interconnected questions. He highlights the challenges facing scientists, their different disciplinary perspectives, and the common ground shared by those interested in developing biological brains and AI systems.

In the end, Hiesinger contends that the information content of biological and artificial neural networks must unfold in an algorithmic process that requires time and energy. There is no predefined genome or blueprint that depicts the final product. The self-assembling brain knows no shortcuts.

The Self-Assembling Brain is a valuable resource for readers interested in advances in neuroscience and artificial intelligence. It provides a comprehensive exploration of the complex relationship between these fields and sheds light on the ongoing efforts to understand the brain's inner workings. By bridging the gap between biology and technology, Hiesinger offers a fresh perspective on the quest for artificial intelligence and sheds light on the potential for human-level intelligence to be achieved through the study of the brain.

Weight: 618g
Dimension: 155 x 234 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691241692