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Intelligent Machines That Learn Like Children
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Intelligent Machines That Learn Like Children

Machines that learn like children provide deep insights into how the mind and body act together to bootstrap knowledge and skills

Diana Kwon
Scientific American, 2018
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9

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Artificial intelligence is the decade’s new buzz word. Rapid improvements in computer science and machine learning allow scientists to create robots that have more and more human-like features. One of the newest and most intriguing developments are robots that teach themselves to mimic human development. At the same time these robots allow scientists to better understand the complicated mind and body interactions that bring about human learning, as well as learning deficits. This article will engage and inspire anyone who wants to explore the brave new world of artificial intelligence.

Summary

Robots that teach themselves mimic human development.

Scientists have created robots that teach themselves to mimic human development. These robots are programmed to acquire knowledge and skills the way a human child would.

At the same time the “brains” inside the robots can be examined in order to shed light on how exactly the learning came about and to better understand how humans acquire knowledge.

A fundamental ingredient of human learning is the trial and error loop.

The human senses continuously transmit information about the world to the brain. In turn, the brain sends signals to the senses, anticipating what the senses will perceive. These sets of signals interact and create a “prediction error”: The difference between what a person expects...

About the Author

Diana Kwon is a freelance journalist who covers health and the life sciences. She is based in Berlin.

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