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DeepMind AI Learns Simple Physics Like a Baby
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DeepMind AI Learns Simple Physics Like a Baby

Neural network could be a step towards programs for studying how human infants learn.

Davide Castelvecchi
Nature, 2022
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Artificial intelligence (AI) systems struggle to quantify human beings’ intuitive understanding of the world around them, even though such perceptions are readily developed by infants. Computer scientist Luis Piloto and his team modelled software that mimics infant cognition of basic objects. It allows AI, at the least, to express surprise at inexplicable changes in the physical realm.

Summary

A new software, PLATO, allows AI to discern how objects behave, and express surprise at aberrations.

Computer scientists developed a software program for artificial intelligence systems in response to research about how babies learn. Psychologists test an infant’s understanding of object movements by tracking its eyes. For example, when a ball suddenly disappears, the youngster appears surprised. Researchers measure that emotion by the length...

About the Author

Davide Castelvecchi, senior physical sciences reporter for Nature, covers physics, astronomy, math and technology subjects.

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