Human Brain and Artificial Intelligences: Similarities and Differences

Human Brain: A Decision-Making Machine

The Human Brain is an extraordinary machine designed to make decisions. Every day, it processes an incalculable amount of information to help us navigate a complex and uncertain world.

When a question arises ("prompt" in AI language), the human brain begins by gathering data stored in its neurons. This data is the result of experience, learning, and memory. Similarly, an AI draws on the data provided during its training. Then, the brain calculates the probability of different answers based on context and available information, just like an AI uses algorithms to determine the most likely response. Finally, the brain chooses a binary response (yes or no) based on this probability, a process similar to how an AI generates an output.

The decision-making process of the human brain and artificial intelligences thus presents fascinating similarities, although they operate in very different contexts. For example, when choosing a dish at a restaurant, your brain weighs tastes, memories associated with certain foods, and even your hunger level to make a decision. The decision-making process is strongly influenced by emotions, moods, and personal experiences.

The human brain integrates emotional, contextual, and subjective dimensions that enrich its cognition, while AIs are limited to objective calculations and data. This difference highlights the unique sophistication of human cognition.

Examples of Analogies between the Human Brain and Artificial Intelligences

Learning and Adaptation

The human brain and artificial intelligences share a remarkable ability to learn and adapt. The human brain learns through neuroplasticity, the ability of neurons to reorganize and form new connections based on experiences. For example, when a person learns to play a musical instrument, their brain physically modifies its neural networks to improve this skill.

Similarly, AIs use machine learning techniques to adapt and improve their performance. For example, a speech recognition algorithm improves by analyzing thousands of hours of speech to refine its ability to understand and interpret human language. However, unlike the human brain, which can learn autonomously from almost any experience, AIs require structured data and specific training to progress.

Decision-Making in Uncertain Contexts

The human brain excels in decision-making in uncertain contexts, where information is incomplete or ambiguous. For example, a doctor often makes a diagnosis based on partial or contradictory symptoms. The brain then uses heuristics (mental shortcuts) and past experiences to assess risks and make a decision.

AIs, particularly those based on deep learning, can also make decisions in uncertain contexts using probabilistic models. For example, a medical AI can predict the likelihood of a patient having a disease by analyzing incomplete data. However, unlike the human brain, AIs cannot integrate subtle contextual factors, such as intuition or empathy, which play a crucial role in human decisions.

Similarly, AIs use machine learning techniques to adapt and improve their performance. For example, a speech recognition algorithm improves by analyzing thousands of hours of speech to refine its ability to understand and interpret human language. However, unlike the human brain, which can learn autonomously from almost any experience, AIs require structured data and specific training to progress.

Creativity and Idea Generation

The human brain is capable of creativity, generating new and original ideas by combining existing concepts in novel ways. For example, an artist can create a unique work of art inspired by their experiences, emotions, and imagination.

AIs, particularly text or image generation models like GPT or DALL-E, can also produce creative content by combining existing data. For example, an AI can generate a poem or painting inspired by millions of examples. However, this creativity is limited by the training data and algorithms: an AI cannot feel emotions or have artistic intent, distinguishing its creativity from that of a human.

Similarly, AIs use machine learning techniques to adapt and improve their performance. For example, a speech recognition algorithm improves by analyzing thousands of hours of speech to refine its ability to understand and interpret human language. However, unlike the human brain, which can learn autonomously from almost any experience, AIs require structured data and specific training to progress.

Error Management and Learning from Failure

The human brain often learns from its mistakes. For example, a child who touches a hot plate quickly learns to avoid this danger in the future. This ability to learn from failures is essential for adaptation and survival.

AIs can also learn from their mistakes through techniques like reinforcement learning. For example, a game algorithm like AlphaGo learns to improve its strategies by analyzing lost games. However, unlike the human brain, AIs do not feel frustration or intrinsic motivation to improve: their learning is purely based on predefined objectives.

The Influence of Moods and Emotions

Where AIs are limited to probabilistic calculations based on objective data, the human brain integrates subjective elements such as moods, mental state, anxieties, and tolerance thresholds. For example, a stressed or anxious person might interpret a situation differently from someone who is relaxed, even if the objective data is the same. These emotional and psychological factors play a crucial role in decision-making, adding a layer of complexity that AIs cannot authentically reproduce.

It is important to note that emotions, as data stored in the brain, are also weighted differently depending on context and personal history. For example, a traumatic experience can give greater weight to certain emotions, influencing future decisions. Similarly, AIs manipulate data with different weights, but these weights are determined by algorithms, not subjective experience.

In Summary

The human brain and artificial intelligences share many basic mechanisms in their decision-making processes, but the human experience is enriched by unique emotional and contextual elements. Understanding these parallels and differences allows us not only to appreciate the sophistication of our own brain but also to design AIs capable of adapting to more nuanced contexts.