A Skeptical Reaction To IBM's Cat Brain Simulation Claims

kreyszig writes "The recent story of a cat brain simulation from IBM had me wondering if this was really possible as described. Now a senior researcher in the same field has publicly denounced IBM's claims." More optimisticaly, dontmakemethink points out an "astounding article about new 'Neurogrid' computer chips which offer brain-like computing with extremely low power consumption. In a simulation of 55 million neurons on a traditional supercomputer, 320,000 watts of power was required, while a 1-million neuron Neurogrid chip array is expected to consume less than one watt."

Does anyone really know what a cat thinks?

[cyberspittle]

Think about it. Think about it like a cat.

Okay...

[Anonymous Coward]

Somehow my pet parrot now seems oddly... delicious. :O

All those neurons using less than 1 watt?

[drainbramage]

All those neurons using less than 1 watt?
I know some people like that.

Oblig. Penny Arcade ref

[L4t3r4lu5]

VINDICATION! [penny-arcade.com]

Re:nonlinear

[MrNaz]

It makes sense if you assume that *his* brain works like that.

Re:Does anyone really know what a cat thinks?

[Jesus_666]

Okay.

Give me food. Now.

Almaden's Dharmendra Modha: You got pwned!

[__aailob1448]

I saw that story earlier and dismissed it for the crap that it was. I'd like to thank Henry Markram for vindicating my snap judgment with his flame email.

Re:Does anyone really know what a cat thinks?

[Jesus_666]

Where's my food? I asked for food more than one minute ago and there's nothing here yet. I am outraged.

Re:Brain Power

[Xest]

Damn, if only we could find such a great source of power!

Re:All those neurons using less than 1 watt?

[Nerdfest]

I'm being environmentally, friendly you insensitive clod!

Re:long ways to go yet

[L4t3r4lu5]

The simulation, which runs 100 times slower than an actual cat's brain, is more about watching how thoughts are formed in the brain...

What? I can already tell them that!

IF $stomach_contents = 0 THEN ConsumeFood;
IF $claw_count > 0 THEN ScratchShitOutOfFurniture;
IF $Sphincter_Tension > 0 THEN PoopAnywhereYouWant;
IF $TimeSinceSleep < 1800 THEN $TimeSinceSleep = $TimeSinceSleep + 1 ELSE YawnFishBreathInOwnersFaceAndFallAsleepOnComputerChair;

Re:Does anyone really know what a cat thinks?

[Jesus_666]

I still see a distinct lack of you-provided food around here. Make it snappy, can opener slave!

Re:Does anyone really know what a cat thinks?

[jhoegl]

Hey... whats that moving dot on the wall? Why is it there? I must have it! Great! I captured it! Wait, whats this? It escaped me, inconceivable!!! What luck, it stopped right by my paw, Ill will capture it again! NNNNOOOOOOO!!!! Look, look there, its something moving under my feet. I must pounce it to figure out what it is! Weird, I pounced it and its still moving. Ill pounce it again! Ah, there it stopped moving, Ill sniff it now. Wait, its moving again... Curse you!

Re:long ways to go yet

[Neil Hodges]

...I know this because I do it for a living.

Don't each of our brains do this for a living, too?

Re:Almaden's Dharmendra Modha: You got pwned!

[yt.rabb at gmail]

The only thing missing from that email was his momma. Hey Mohda, Your momma's research methodology is so flawed, that she puts the hypothesis to be proven as an assumption. Biatch.