Million module neural systems evolution

Abstract

This position paper discusses the evolution of multi-module neural net systems, where the number of neural net modules is up to ten million (i.e. an “artificial brain”). ATR's “CAM-Brain” Project [de Garis 1993, 1996] has progressed to the point where it is technically possible (using a new FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) based evolvable hardware (EHW or E-Hard) system to be completed by the spring of 1998 [Korkin & de Garis 1997]) to begin to evolve and build an artificial brain containing 10,000 neural net modules. This development raises the prospect that within a few years these numbers will rapidly increase. This paper introduces some issues that such massive system-building will generate. The immediate question is “What should we evolve?” This paper presents some suggested evolvable system targets containing N neural net modules, where N = 100; 1000; 10,000; 100,000; 1,000,000; 10,000,000 with an emphasis on the N = 100 case, for purposes of illustration. The issues involved are not only of a conceptual and evolutionary engineering nature, but (when N is large) economic, managerial and even political as well.

Note : de Garis papers can be found at site :- http://www.hip.atr.co.jp/-degaris