Artificial Intelligence Program Tries to Channel an Infant’s Brain

Researchers of the Auckland Bioengineering Institute Laboratory for Animate Technologies in New Zealand have created a virtual baby “brain” that could act and learn like a real baby. The baby brain, BabyX, is a computer-driven simulation of how the human brain sends emotional signals to a digital face. Her ‘brain’ is in the form of a computer algorithm that mimic neural behaviour of real infants.

And the movements and expressions of her face on screen are devised from actual movements of babies. Inside BabyX’s virtual brain, simulated neurochemical reactions decide how she will act.

She can ‘see’ via a camera on a computer and, using facial recognition, can tell when someone is interacting with her.

And she can also hear words and recognise sounds. For example, praising the baby will release virtual dopamine hormone, causing it to smile and giggle on screen.

Hiding from the baby, meanwhile, will cause levels of the cortisol to climb, which will increase BabyX’s stress levels. It’s not a system based on neuroscience, however, but rather through analysis of faces and how certain situations affect the brain.  

The baby is based on Auckland Univeristy scientist Dr Mark Sagar’s own daughter, Francesca. The goal is to eventually create a machine that can think and learn exactly like a real human baby, and ultimately grow it into an artificially intelligent adult.

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‘We are developing multidisciplinary technologies to create interactive autonomously animated systems which will define the next generation of human computer interaction and facial animation,’ the researchers said. 

Source-Medindia