News IBM announces neurosynaptic software system

Sounds like one of Thinking Machines 'Connection Machine' supercomputers compressed down to a chip. I wonder if their chip has any significant advantage to simulating a SLNN using RAM and a modern fast sequential processor iterating over the net (other than the operations happening truly in parallel, which is irrelevant unless the entire system is asynchronous).

 

Does no one remember Turing? The structure doesn't matter, it still can't do anything that a "normal" computer can't. Though it could be faster at some things.

 

I think they're using a LOT more very simple cores/cells that the Connection Machine. Still, the connections become the biggest part of the chip when the number of cells goes up, particularly with a lot of connections between cells. Guessing they would be using some sort of multiplexing buses with local, on-chip and between-chip sets.

 

They keep saying it "mimics the brain" and stuff like that, but in reality the nature did a way such it will never be possible!

 

Nonsense! Brute force method: molecular simulation of the volume of neural tissue you want. More elegant solution: parametric neurons with diffuse neurotransmitter simulation. Most SLNNs for the last few decades are just parametric models.

That is, unless you subscribe to Dualism and think the brain has some sort of magic intangible goop that lets you think.