Top computer scientists say the future of artificial intelligence is similar to that of Star Trek – Tech Xplore
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March 22, 2024
This article has been reviewed according to Science X’s editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content’s credibility:
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by Meg Cox, Loughborough University
Leading computer scientists from around the world have shared their vision for the future of artificial intelligence—and it resembles the capabilities of Star Trek character “The Borg.”
Experts from the likes of Loughborough University, MIT, and Yale say we are set to see the emergence of “Collective AI,” where numerous artificial intelligence units, each capable of continuously acquiring new knowledge and skills, form a network to share information with each other.
The researchers—who unveiled their vision in a perspective paper in Nature Machine Intelligence—recognize the striking similarities between Collective AI and many science fiction concepts. One example they cite is The Borg, cybernetic organisms featured in the Star Trek universe, which operate and share knowledge through a linked hive-mind.
However, unlike many sci-fi narratives, the computer scientists envision Collective AI will lead to major positive breakthroughs across various fields.
Loughborough University’s Dr. Andrea Soltoggio, the research lead, explained, “Instant knowledge sharing across a collective network of AI units capable of continuously learning and adapting to new data will enable rapid responses to novel situations, challenges, or threats.
“For example, in a cybersecurity setting if one AI unit identifies a threat, it can quickly share knowledge and prompt a collective response—much like how the human immune system protects the body from outside invaders.
“It could also lead to the development of disaster response robots that can quickly adapt to the conditions they are dispatched in, or personalized medical agents that improve health outcomes by merging cutting-edge medical knowledge with patient-specific information.
“The potential applications are vast and exciting.”
The researchers acknowledge there are risks associated with Collective AI—such as the swift spread of potentially unethical or illicit knowledge—but highlight a crucial safety aspect of their vision: AI units maintain their own objectives and independence from the collective.
Dr. Soltoggio says this would “result in a democracy of AI agents, significantly reducing the risks of an AI domination by few large systems.”
The computer scientists arrived at the conclusion that the future of AI lies in collective intelligence following an analysis of recent advancements in machine learning.
Their research revealed global efforts are concentrated on enabling lifelong learning (where an AI agent can extend its knowledge throughout its operational lifespan) and developing universal protocols and languages that will allow AI systems to share knowledge with each other.
This differs from current large AI models, such as ChatGPT, which have limited lifelong learning and knowledge-sharing capabilities. Such models acquire most of their knowledge during energy-intense training sessions and are unable to continue learning.
“Recent research trends are extending AI models with the ability to continuously adapt once deployed, and make their knowledge reusable by other models, effectively recycling knowledge to optimize learning speed and energy demands,” says Dr. Soltoggio.
“We believe that the current dominating large, expensive, non-shareable and non-lifelong AI models will not survive in a future where sustainable, evolving, and sharing collective of AI units are likely to emerge.”
He continued, “Human knowledge has grown incrementally over millennia thanks to communication and sharing.
“We believe similar dynamics are likely to occur in future societies of artificial intelligence units that will implement democratic and collaborating collectives.”
Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University, Professor Nick Jennings, is an internationally-recognized authority in the areas of AI, autonomous systems, cyber-security and agent-based computing. He said, “I’m delighted to see Loughborough researchers leading in this important area of AI research.
“This paper helps set the agenda for the next wave of AI developments, based upon multiple, interacting agents. I look forward to seeing this vision becoming a reality in the coming years.”
More information: A collective AI via lifelong learning and sharing at the edge, Nature Machine Intelligence (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s42256-024-00800-2. www.nature.com/articles/s42256-024-00800-2
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share this!
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March 22, 2024
This article has been reviewed according to Science X’s editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content’s credibility:
fact-checked
peer-reviewed publication
trusted source
proofread
by Meg Cox, Loughborough University
Leading computer scientists from around the world have shared their vision for the future of artificial intelligence—and it resembles the capabilities of Star Trek character “The Borg.”
Experts from the likes of Loughborough University, MIT, and Yale say we are set to see the emergence of “Collective AI,” where numerous artificial intelligence units, each capable of continuously acquiring new knowledge and skills, form a network to share information with each other.
The researchers—who unveiled their vision in a perspective paper in Nature Machine Intelligence—recognize the striking similarities between Collective AI and many science fiction concepts. One example they cite is The Borg, cybernetic organisms featured in the Star Trek universe, which operate and share knowledge through a linked hive-mind.
However, unlike many sci-fi narratives, the computer scientists envision Collective AI will lead to major positive breakthroughs across various fields.
Loughborough University’s Dr. Andrea Soltoggio, the research lead, explained, “Instant knowledge sharing across a collective network of AI units capable of continuously learning and adapting to new data will enable rapid responses to novel situations, challenges, or threats.
“For example, in a cybersecurity setting if one AI unit identifies a threat, it can quickly share knowledge and prompt a collective response—much like how the human immune system protects the body from outside invaders.
“It could also lead to the development of disaster response robots that can quickly adapt to the conditions they are dispatched in, or personalized medical agents that improve health outcomes by merging cutting-edge medical knowledge with patient-specific information.
“The potential applications are vast and exciting.”
The researchers acknowledge there are risks associated with Collective AI—such as the swift spread of potentially unethical or illicit knowledge—but highlight a crucial safety aspect of their vision: AI units maintain their own objectives and independence from the collective.
Dr. Soltoggio says this would “result in a democracy of AI agents, significantly reducing the risks of an AI domination by few large systems.”
The computer scientists arrived at the conclusion that the future of AI lies in collective intelligence following an analysis of recent advancements in machine learning.
Their research revealed global efforts are concentrated on enabling lifelong learning (where an AI agent can extend its knowledge throughout its operational lifespan) and developing universal protocols and languages that will allow AI systems to share knowledge with each other.
This differs from current large AI models, such as ChatGPT, which have limited lifelong learning and knowledge-sharing capabilities. Such models acquire most of their knowledge during energy-intense training sessions and are unable to continue learning.
“Recent research trends are extending AI models with the ability to continuously adapt once deployed, and make their knowledge reusable by other models, effectively recycling knowledge to optimize learning speed and energy demands,” says Dr. Soltoggio.
“We believe that the current dominating large, expensive, non-shareable and non-lifelong AI models will not survive in a future where sustainable, evolving, and sharing collective of AI units are likely to emerge.”
He continued, “Human knowledge has grown incrementally over millennia thanks to communication and sharing.
“We believe similar dynamics are likely to occur in future societies of artificial intelligence units that will implement democratic and collaborating collectives.”
Vice-Chancellor and President of Loughborough University, Professor Nick Jennings, is an internationally-recognized authority in the areas of AI, autonomous systems, cyber-security and agent-based computing. He said, “I’m delighted to see Loughborough researchers leading in this important area of AI research.
“This paper helps set the agenda for the next wave of AI developments, based upon multiple, interacting agents. I look forward to seeing this vision becoming a reality in the coming years.”
More information: A collective AI via lifelong learning and sharing at the edge, Nature Machine Intelligence (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s42256-024-00800-2. www.nature.com/articles/s42256-024-00800-2
Journal information: Nature Machine Intelligence
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Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page. For general inquiries, please use our contact form. For general feedback, use the public comments section below (please adhere to guidelines).
Please select the most appropriate category to facilitate processing of your request
Thank you for taking time to provide your feedback to the editors.
Your feedback is important to us. However, we do not guarantee individual replies due to the high volume of messages.
Your email address is used only to let the recipient know who sent the email. Neither your address nor the recipient’s address will be used for any other purpose. The information you enter will appear in your e-mail message and is not retained by Tech Xplore in any form.
Daily science news on research developments and the latest scientific innovations
Medical research advances and health news
The most comprehensive sci-tech news coverage on the web
This site uses cookies to assist with navigation, analyse your use of our services, collect data for ads personalisation and provide content from third parties. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
This article was autogenerated from a news feed from CDO TIMES selected high quality news and research sources. There was no editorial review conducted beyond that by CDO TIMES staff. Need help with any of the topics in our articles? Schedule your free CDO TIMES Tech Navigator call today to stay ahead of the curve and gain insider advantages to propel your business!
