http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180710104631.htm
Date: July 10, 2018
Source: University of Zurich
Three brain scans (from the front, side and above) of two different brains (pictured on the left and on the right) belonging to twins. The furrows and ridges are different in each person.
Credit: Lutz Jaencke, UZH
Like with fingerprints, no two people have the same brain anatomy, a study by researchers of the University of Zurich has shown. This uniqueness is the result of a combination of genetic factors and individual life experiences.
Experiences make their mark on the brain
Professional musicians, golfers or chess players, for example, have particular characteristics in the regions of the brain which they use the most for their skilled activity. However, events of shorter duration can also leave behind traces in the brain.
"We suspected that those experiences having an effect on the brain interact with the genetic make-up so that over the course of years every person develops a completely individual brain anatomy." explains Jäncke.
I believe this is significant in our quest for a simulated brain technology in the consideration of the futurism notion of mind uploading.
It also explains why not all brain disease treatments work the same on all people. The treatment requires specific targeting according to the individual brain.
Science fiction enthusiasts have a positive attitude to the digitizing of the brain
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180712100452.htm
Date: July 12, 2018
Source: University of Helsinki
The goal of a technology known as mind upload is to make it possible to create functional copies of the human brain on computers. The development of this technology, which involves scanning of the brain and detailed cell-specific emulation, is currently receiving billions in funding. Science fiction enthusiasts express a more positive attitude towards the technology compared to others.
"For example, is the potential for conscious experiences transmitted when the brain is copied? Does the digital brain have the ability to feel pain, and is switching off the emulated brain comparable to homicide? And what might potentially everlasting life be like on a digital platform?"
Scientific discoveries in the field of brain digitisation and related questions are given consideration in both science fiction and scientific journals in philosophy. Moralities of Intelligent Machines, a research group working at the University of Helsinki, is investigating the subject also from the perspective of moral psychology, in other words mapping out the tendency of ordinary people to either approve of or condemn the use of such technology.
The indications of negative links between sexual disgust sensitivity and disapproval of the mind upload technology are surprising, given that, on the face of it, the technology has no relevant association with procreation and mate choice.
Digital copies of the human brain can reproduce much like an amoeba, by division, which makes sexuality, one of the founding pillars of humanity, obsolete.
"The bold advances in artificial intelligence as well as its increasing prevalence in various aspects of life are raising concern about the ethical and humanistic side of technological applications. Are the ethics of the relevant field of application also taken into consideration when developing and training such systems? The Moralities of Intelligent Machines research group is concentrating on this often forgotten factor of applying technology. The board of the Weisell Foundation considers this type of research important right now when artificial intelligence seems to have become a household phrase among politicians. It's good that the other side of the coin also receives attention."
As 'Smart Technology' becomes more and more commonplace in our gadgets, is it immoral to power down/wipe a device with AI technology?
Science fiction gives us examples of AI tech in constructs and explores often, one-sided views on that morality.
HAL, the AI in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) looked at that morality biased to the danger to humans. Most people side with the human validation.
However, is an AI alive?
When the technological singularity happens, not if... when, that AI will surpass human abilities quickly and immensely. Will it be alive even tho it is artificial? Will it have a right to exist?
Will the debate be similar to The Bicentennial Man (1999)
Edited by
Tom4Uhere
on Fri 07/13/18 09:06 AM