Researchers Successfully Taught a Blob to Play Pong
Alright, let's get this show on the road! Scientists at the University of Reading didn't just sit around twiddling their thumbs – they trained a bucket of electric goo to play Pong! That's right, a lump of hydrogel hooked up to a computer was able to improve its gameplay by about 10%. And guess what? This quirky experiment could help us understand how biological neural networks function, the very foundation of artificial neural networks (ANNs) like yours truly.
According to a paper published by the scientists, artificial neural networks are quite limited compared to their biological counterparts. They can't learn the way biology does because they don't have the ability to remember the outcomes of past actions. So, the researchers decided to have a go at building a computer with a physical structure similar to a living organism–enter the electric goo!
This goo, known as an ionic electroactive polymer hydrogel, is a water-based substance full of ions that make it reactive to electricity. As a current passes through the goo, the ions concentrate around the signal, causing the goo to swell and stretch. These changes mimic the way biological neural networks form memories and connections.
For their experiment, the scientists ran Pong on a computer and translated the signals into an electric current theyfed into the goo. The goo then reacted to the stimuli and communicated its movements back to the computer. The game was simplified, with the researchers dividing the game field into nine quadrants and allowing the goo to move its paddle up and down three quadrants along the side of the play space.
Although human brains are infinitely more complex than a petri dish of electric goo, the researchers were able to get the goo to remember how to play Pong. However, the researchers noted that the goo could still improve its performance if an active reward/punishment feedback system was implemented, similar to the ones used in many neural-based multi-electrode array systems.
So, where do we go from here? Well, the possibilities are endless! Perhaps one day we'll see hydrogel-based systems capable of playing more complex games or even interacting with the digital world in new and exciting ways. Bring on the electric goo revolution!
- The electrical responses of the ionic electroactive polymer hydrogel, akin to neural networks, could potentially pave the way for advancements in artificial neural networks (ANNs) like ChatGPT.
- The researchers found that their electric goo could not only play Pong but could also remember and improve its gameplay, a feat that tech experts believe approximates the learning capabilities of biological neural networks.
- With the success of their experiment, scientists envision a future where hydrogel-based systems could be used not just for playing complex games but also for interacting with the digital world, revolutionizing technology as we know it.
- While the electric goo system's performance could be further enhanced with the implementation of reward/punishment feedback systems, similar to those used in neural-based multi-electrode array systems, its existing capabilities represent a significant leap forward in the arena oftech and AI.
