A thousand brains

A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence” by Jeff Hawkins is a groundbreaking and thought-provoking book that challenges conventional ideas about how the brain works and how intelligence is achieved.

Hawkins, who is best known for his work in artificial intelligence and co-founding Palm Computing and Numenta, introduces a new model of the brain called the “thousand brains theory.” This theory proposes that the brain does not have a centralized “CEO” controlling everything, but rather is made up of thousands of mini-brains, each with its expertise and ability to work independently yet collaboratively.

The book takes readers on a journey through the history of neuroscience and the theories proposed about how the brain works. Hawkins also shares his personal experiences and insights from his tech industry work, giving the book a unique perspective.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this book is how Hawkins connects his theories to the development of artificial intelligence. He argues that by understanding how the brain works, we can create more effective and efficient AI systems that can learn and adapt as humans do.

Overall, “A Thousand Brains” is a highly informative and engaging read that challenges readers to think differently about the brain and intelligence. It is a must-read for anyone interested in neuroscience, artificial intelligence, or the future of technology.

I liked how the book build up gradually, and neatly, although it has great knowledge value and seems complex and only for the expert, it is not

As I said before the author is building your knowledge gradually starting with a general opening and explanation about what to expect from this book and what value it might add to you, then introducing the reader gradually to common knowledge about our brain and how it works and what we already know from a previous scientific breakthrough in the field, every valid theory is mentioned casually to warm the reader up to a better understanding of what coming next, the author tries to tell the reader where were we and what he and his colleagues are proposing and let you decide what theory makes more sense to you.

The actual content of the book is divided into 3 parts.

The first part is called a new understanding of the Brain and it is divided into seven chapters, starting with an explanation of the basic knowledge we have about the old brain, our ancestor's brain, and then gradually building up to the latest theory we have now, how we perceive things and what complex operations out brains do every second of our life, you will be amazed on the things that going on in your brain and you're completely unaware of it.

The second part of the book is talking about machine intelligence and it is divided into 4 chapters, explaining briefly about artificial intelligence, discussing what it can and can't do, its potential and capabilities, what the future holds for us and the machines, and whether or not AI is a risk to our very existence.

The third part is talking about human intelligence and it's divided into five chapters it discusses our intelligence, what is right or wrong, what factors affect our intelligence, genes, environment, and other factors, our potential evolution, and whether we as intelligent beings are the very threat we are searching for and trying to avoid.

The author lays out very fascinating facts and theories for the reader and personally loved it there will be another reading if not more of this amazing work.

if you’re interested in reading the full book, you can find it here https://amzn.to/3zUhh53