How Brains Can Still Outperform our Best Computing Machines
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Conventional computers have grown exponentially more powerful in recent decades, but human-made programs still struggle with many hard problems. The growth of neuro-inspired AI has unlocked new capabilities for some hard problems, such as image identification and natural language processing. Fundamental work in this area won a Nobel Prize just recently.
Still, there are several domains in which brains still outperform our best computing machines. One example is visual navigation, as self-driving cars–even with a broad array of cameras, sensors, and computation–still struggle to reliably navigate. Our speaker will discuss these hard problems and some ideas about why brains are so effective at some hard tasks, including ideas for improved computation for hard problems.
Dr. Spencer LaVere Smith, Associate Professor, UCSB Electrical & Computer Engineering
Dr. Smith investigates computation in neurobiology and optics. His lab (slslab.org) builds multiphoton imaging technology for measuring and manipulating neural activity and performs experiments to gain mechanistic insights into neural circuitry. The lab also investigates machine learning and optical computing. He is also the CEO of Pacific Optica, a startup focused on optics that unlock new possibilities.
Dr. Smith earned his undergraduate degree in physics and mathematics at the University of Iowa and his PhD in neuroscience and neuroengineering at UCLA. After postdoctoral work at University College London, he moved to UCSB in 2018. His awards include a PECASE (2019) and a McKnight Technological Innovation Award (2015).
Location: Our speaker will present in person at Community West Bank conference room at 445 Pine Ave. off Hollister Ave. in Goleta, and on Zoom. When you register, we send a confirmation email containing Zoom data, directions to the in-person location and meal details.
About our Meetings:
- Our monthly meetings are now hybrid meetings! You may attend either in person or via Zoom. Some speakers will be presenting in person and others remotely. When you register, you can add payment for lunch if you plan to attend in person. Lunch will be a buffet with a selection of sandwiches from Three Pickles, chips and cold drinks. If you have special dietary concerns, please contact Cheryl Ebner at [email protected].
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Tech Talks Around Town:
- October 24, 6:30pm, SB Hackerspace: Reactive Frontends Without JavaScript
- November 1, 7:30pm, SB Astronomical Unit: Measuring the Cosmic Microwave Background
- November 6, 5:30pm, Community Environmental Council: Climate Expert and National Security Advisor Sherri Goodman
- November 9, 7:30pm, SB Astronomical Unit: Star Party
- November 11, 6:30pm, Museum of Natural History: Science Pub: Western Monarch Overwintering
- November 13, 5:30pm, Ventech: Belly Flop: Lessons Learned from Startup Failures
- November 14, 7:30pm: Las Cumbres Observatory: Astronomy on Tap
- November 19, 6pm, KITP: Physics with a Twist: The New World of Moiré Materials
- December 6, 7:30pm, SB Astronomical Unit: SBAU Members Kelly, Malone, Barman
Virtual Attendance: Yes
Location:
Community West Bank Conference Room, and Zoom
445 Pine Avenue
Goleta CA 93117