The brain can process high volumes of data faster than any single computer. It also uses a surprisingly low amount of power. A shortcut to replicating these features may come sooner than expected, thanks to “neuromorphic” chips envisaged by Samsung and Harvard researchers.
Such human-level artificial intelligence would have broad applications. In medicine, for example, where it could provide diagnoses. The biggest challenge has been training machines to process information in a “brain-like” manner. Computers are linear and methodical. Brains are lateral and make sudden leaps.
AI researchers try to get round this by feeding computers massive amounts of data. Programmes are only as good as this information. The limited amount and quality of available data has often sent human-like AI down the wrong path, prompting them into illogicalities of expression and offensive opinions.