On Intelligence [Paperback]

 

 

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I read MCT's review and while I agree I think he missed the point and don't agree with the rating. The book is not on artificial intelligence but a theory on how the brain manifests intelligence. I found the basic premise a useful place to start thinking about the process. Complexity which grows out of the application of simple repeatable patterns is a much more believable evolutionary process and worth looking into as a theory. It got me thinking which is what any good book should do.

Jeff Hawkins is the founder of Palm Computer, and the inventor of the Palm Pilot and Treo. After making his fortune, Hawkins turned his attention to neuroscience. Given that history, I was afraid that this book was only published because Hawkins is rich, successful and presumed smart. In fact, Hawkins is smart. More importantly, he has some very good ideas about how the brain works, and he presents them in a clear and concise way. This is an excellent book.

Hawkins presents a theory of how the brain makes predictions. Questions that are easily solved are solved at a lower level. If they cannot be solved, they move up to the next level -- something like. I'll let Hawkins explain it. He does a much better job.

"On Intelligence" could easily have been titled "How the Mind Works." In fact, that title is taken by another wonderful scientist and writer, Steven Pinker. The two books have very little in common after that. I highly recommend both.

I read this book when it was first published (in 2004) and recently re-read it while preparing for an interview of one of countless thought leaders who have acknowledged their great debt to Jeff Hawkins for what they have learned from him and, especially, for what they learned from this book. Written with Sandra Blakeslee, this book provides a superb discussion of topics that include

o Artificial intelligence
o Neural networks
o The structure and functions of the human brain
o A "new framework of intelligence" (more about that later)
o How the cortex works
o Consciousness and creativity
o Hawkins' thoughts about the future of intelligence

As Hawkins explains, his goal "is to explain [his] new theory of intelligence and how the brain works in a way that anybody will understand." However, I hasten to add, this is not a book written for dummies and idiots who wish to "fool" people into thinking they know and understand more than in fact they do.

Early on, Hawkins acknowledges his skepticism about artificial intelligence (AI) for reasons that are best explained within his narrative, in context. However, it can be said now that after extensive research, Hawkins concluded that three separate but related components are essential to understanding the brain: "My first criterion was the inclusion of time in brain function...The second criterion was the inclusion of feedback...The third criterion was that any theory or model of the brain should account for the physical architecture of the brain." AI capabilities, Hawkins notes, are severely limited in terms of (a) creating programs that replicate what the human mind can do, (b) must be perfect to work at all, and (c) AI "might lead to useful products, but it isn't going to build truly intelligence machines."

The material in Chapter 7, "Consciousness and Creativity," is of special interest to me as I continue to read recently published books that offer breakthrough insights on creativity, innovation, and the processes by which to develop them. (The authors of many of those books, to borrow from a 12th century French monk, Bernard of Chartres, are standing on Dawkins' "shoulders." It must be getting crowded up there.) Hawkins asserts that creativity does not require high intelligence and giftedness, and defines creativity as "making predictions by analogy, something that occurs everywhere in cortex and something you do continually while awake. Creativity occurs along a continuum...At a fundamental level, everyday acts of perception are similar to rare flights of brilliance. It's just that the everyday acts are so common we don't notice them." I call this phenomenon "the invisibility of the obvious."

I am among those who are curious to know the answers to questions such as "Why are some people more creative than others?" ""Can you train yourself to be more creative?" "What is consciousness?" and "What is imagination?" Hawkins has formulated answers to these and other questions and shares them in this chapter. He concludes the book with eleven predictions and #8 caught my eye: "Sudden understanding should result in a precise cascading of predictive activity that flows down the cortical hierarchy." In other words, revelations (whatever their nature and scope) help us, not only to connect dots but to connect those that are most important.

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Realistic View
This book provides a unique view of the brain. Rather than showing all the parts, etc, it focusses on how the parts interrelate to help all creatures survive. Read more

Published 8 months ago by TomMcIn

2.0 out of 5 stars you can do better
If you're looking for a nice introduction to AI, look somewhere else. This book is nothing more than an outdated opinion paper. Read more

Published on Aug 30 2007 by MCT

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