How We're Studying Human Intelligence To Build Smarter Robots

Artificial intelligence is still not as fast or reliable as human intelligence--which is perhaps a relief for those of you with nightmares of the robot takeover. But now, a new study in PLoS Computational Biology explains why the human brain's enigmatic but effective design works so well--and how we can harness that power to make smarter machines. Hierarchy--the ability to divide units into smaller, functional parts--is the driving force behind every biological system. Our very bodies are organized into organ systems which are made of of organs, organs made up of tissues and tissues made up of cells. But the human brain is the ultimate hierarchical system, with separate areas and sub-regions designed to perform specific tasks for specific body parts.