Unlocking the brain’s “magic” in tech is the job of neuromorphic computing and three scientists at UT San Antonio’s MATRIX AI Consortium who are working toward that goal — as they also seek ways to make AI trustworthy.
“In a nutshell, neuromorphic computing is trying to approach computing inspired by how the brain works,” said William Severa, PhD, associate professor in the department of computer science at UT San Antonio.
The human brain has billions of cells and neurons that obey mathematical formulas and their own dynamics, he said, communicating with one another in particular patterns.
“Neuromorphic computing tries to unlock what is magic about the brain by encoding it in how we do computing,” Severa said. “Now everybody disagrees on what that magic is, but that’s why you have so many different approaches when it comes to neuromorphic — different approaches capture different aspects of that biology.”
In this episode of the Launchpad podcast, UT San Antonio’s John Elizondo sits down with Severa, Fidel Santamaria, PhD, and Panos Markopoulos, PhD, researchers with the MATRIX AI Consortium for Human Well-being at UT San Antonio.
Santamaria is a professor in the university’s department of neuroscience, developmental and regenerative biology, and Markopoulos is a cloud technology endowed fellow and associate professor in the departments of computer engineering and computer science.
The three scientists met with Elizondo on the eve of the MATRIX Consortium’s fifth anniversary to explore how they are helping shape the future of artificial intelligence and human well-being with neuromorphic computing and through trustworthy AI.
Santamaria invokes the experience of a cocktail party to describe the way the brain works.
At a party, “you’re engaged in a conversation, there’s loud music, people are laughing, and then you hear your name being pronounced somewhere on the other side of the room,” he said. “That sound gets enhanced by your nervous system, and then you realize, ‘somebody’s calling me.’
“Or you hear the pitch of one of your friends talking, you identify that pitch and you turn and localize them in that very crowded and noisy room. How does the brain do that?”
The podcast also covers the topic of “trustworthy AI,” described by Markopoulos as having three characteristics: reliability, explainability and security. He added that AI is an exciting technological area and he’s optimistic about its use for good.
“It can really improve our lives,” he said. “At the same time, we have the responsibility to learn about it, understand it and see how we can use it for our benefit, for the benefit of humans.”
This episode of Launchpad is brought to you by the Office of University Strategic Communications. Launchpad is available on Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube.
Listen and learn more about the technology, the research happening at UT San Antonio and how the three scientists first became interested in problem-solving.
