--- A Conversation with Bard That Will Change Your Perspective （与巴德的一段对话）
Foreword
On May 25, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Neuralink's plan to study human brain implants. To achieve a quick yet meaningful assessment of the significance of this approval and to orient myself properly, I turned to one of the most knowledgeable artificial brains the human race ever knew of, Bard (the LLM from Google AI), for help. I conversed with Bard on May 27, 2023, to tap into its vast knowledge base. As I anticipated, the conversation turned out very educational for me. Because of this, I would like to share with you the content of the whole conversation so that it can benefit you as well. (Note: ESS is the abbreviation of my name, as used in the conversation minutes below.)
2023 年 5 月 25 日，美国食品和药物管理局 (FDA) 批准了 Neuralink 研究人脑植入物的计划。为了快速而准确地评估这一批准的重要性并帮助自己正确定位，我向人类迄今所知的最有知识的人工大脑之一巴德 (谷歌的智能机器人) 寻求帮助。为了借助其庞大的知识库，我于 2023 年 5 月 27 日与巴德进行了一次对话。正如我所预料的那样，这次谈话对我来说很有教育意义。正因为如此，我愿与您分享整个对话的内容，以便它也使您受益。
The conversation with Bard
ESS: Are you aware that on 25-05-2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Neuralink's plan for clinical trials of chip implants of human brains?
Bard: Yes, I am aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Neuralink's plan for clinical trials of chip implants of human brains on May 25, 2023. This is a significant step forward for Neuralink, as it will allow the company to begin testing its technology in humans. The trials are expected to begin in the near future, and they will focus on the safety and efficacy of Neuralink's implants in people with severe paralysis. If the trials are successful, Neuralink could eventually develop a commercial product that could help people with a variety of neurological conditions, including paralysis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
Neuralink is a neurotechnology startup founded by Elon Musk in 2016. The company is developing a brain-computer interface (BCI) that would allow people to control computers and other devices with their thoughts. Neuralink's BCI is designed to be implanted in the brain, and it would use a network of electrodes to record electrical activity from the brain. This information would then be transmitted to a computer, which could be used to control devices or to provide feedback to the user.
Neuralink's BCI has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with technology. It could allow people with paralysis to control computers and other devices with their thoughts, and it could also be used to treat a variety of neurological conditions. The FDA approval for clinical trials is a significant step forward for Neuralink, and it could pave the way for the development of a commercial product that could change the lives of millions of people.
ESS: Glad you feel that way, Bard. That is exactly how I feel about the news, too. Could you please elaborate on the broad potential that can be unleashed once such BCIs are combined with advanced AIs?
Bard: Sure. The combination of BCIs and advanced AIs has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with the world around us. Here are a few examples of the potential applications of this technology:
Improved rehabilitation: BCIs could be used to help people with neurological conditions such as paralysis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. By providing real-time feedback to the brain, BCIs could help to improve motor function, cognitive function, and memory.
Enhanced human performance: BCIs could be used to enhance human performance in a variety of areas, such as sports, education, and the workplace. By providing users with real-time feedback and control over their own brain activity, BCIs could help people to learn faster, perform better, and make better decisions.
New forms of communication: BCIs could be used to create new forms of communication that are not limited by our physical bodies. For example, BCIs could be used to allow people to communicate with each other telepathically or to control robots with their thoughts.
Augmented reality: BCIs could be used to create augmented reality experiences that are more immersive and realistic than anything that is currently possible. By providing users with real-time feedback about their surroundings, BCIs could help people to interact with the world around them in new and exciting ways.
These are just a few of the potential applications of BCIs combined with advanced AIs. As this technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more amazing and innovative applications emerge.
Photo by Olga Guryanova on Unsplash
ESS: Thanks, Bard. That is very enlightening. Regarding your thoughts about "improved rehabilitation," please fill me in with more details. I am not very updated with the current status of medical research. What are the most challenging problems in rehabilitating patients with neurological conditions such as paralysis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease? What types of research (or combinations of the BCIs and AIs) are possible candidates that can lead to breakthroughs? Roughly how long you might anticipate for each one of such research to yield the breakthroughs?
Bard: Sure. Here are some of the most difficult problems in the area of rehabilitation of patients with neurological conditions:
Paralysis: Paralysis is a condition in which a person is unable to move one or more parts of their body. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including stroke, spinal cord injury, and brain injury. There is currently no cure for paralysis, but there are a number of rehabilitation therapies that can help people to regain some degree of function. BCIs could be used to help people with paralysis to control prosthetic limbs or other devices with their thoughts.
Alzheimer's disease: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that causes progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. There is currently no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but there are a number of treatments that can help to slow the progression of the disease. BCIs could be used to help people with Alzheimer's disease to improve their memory and cognitive function.
Parkinson's disease: Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that causes tremors, muscle rigidity, and slowness of movement. There is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease, but there are a number of treatments that can help to manage the symptoms of the disease. BCIs could be used to help people with Parkinson's disease to improve their motor function and reduce their tremors.
There are a number of research areas that are currently being explored that could lead to breakthroughs in the rehabilitation of patients with neurological conditions. These include:
Brain-computer interface (BCI) research: BCI research is focused on developing technologies that allow people to control devices with their thoughts. BCIs could be used to help people with paralysis to control prosthetic limbs or other devices, or to help people with Alzheimer's disease to improve their memory and cognitive function.
Artificial intelligence (AI) research: AI research is focused on developing intelligent machines that can learn and adapt to their environment. AI could be used to develop BCIs that are more effective and easier to use or to develop new rehabilitation therapies that are more effective than traditional therapies.
Neuroscience research: Neuroscience research is focused on understanding how the brain works. Neuroscience research could help to develop new rehabilitation therapies that are more targeted and effective.
It is difficult to say how long it will take for research in these areas to yield breakthroughs. However, the progress that has been made in recent years is encouraging. It is likely that we will see significant advances in the rehabilitation of patients with neurological conditions in the next few decades.
ESS: I understand, Bard. Could you please comment further on your topic, “Enhanced human performance,” maybe with more technical details and examples?
Bard: Sure. Here are some examples of how BCIs could be used to enhance human performance:
Sports: BCIs could be used to help athletes train more effectively and improve their performance. For example, BCIs could be used to provide real-time feedback on an athlete's technique or to help them to visualize the perfect execution of a move.
Education: BCIs could be used to help students learn more effectively. For example, BCIs could be used to provide real-time feedback on a student's understanding of a concept or to help them to focus their attention on the most important information.
Workplace: BCIs could be used to help workers perform their jobs more safely and efficiently. For example, BCIs could be used to provide real-time feedback on a worker's performance or to help them to operate machinery more safely.
These are just a few examples of how BCIs could be used to enhance human performance. As this technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative and exciting applications emerge.
Here are some more technical details about how BCIs work:
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs): BCIs are devices that allow people to control devices with their thoughts. BCIs work by recording electrical activity from the brain and then using this information to control a device.
Electroencephalography (EEG): EEG is a technique that is used to record electrical activity from the brain. EEG uses electrodes that are placed on the scalp to record the electrical signals that are generated by the brain.
Neural networks: Neural networks are a type of artificial intelligence that can be used to process information from the brain. Neural networks can be used to decode the electrical signals that are recorded by EEG and to control devices with the thoughts.
BCIs are still in their early stages of development, but they have the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with the world around us. As this technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more amazing and innovative applications emerge.
ESS: Agree with you, Bard. Please elaborate on "provide real-time feedback on a student's understanding of a concept"? For instance, how would an AI find the truth or correct concept for a student to compare and assess whether his/her understanding is correct in real-time? Or what techniques will the AI likely apply to achieve that? Similarly, could you please elaborate more on "to help them focus their attention on the most important information"?
Bard: Sure. Here are some ways that an AI could provide real-time feedback on a student's understanding of a concept:
Using machine learning: Machine learning algorithms can be trained to identify patterns in student data, such as test scores, homework assignments, and class participation. This data can then be used to predict how well a student is likely to understand a particular concept.
Using natural language processing: Natural language processing (NLP) algorithms can be used to analyze student essays and other written work. This analysis can be used to identify areas where the student is struggling and to provide feedback on how to improve.
Using eye tracking: Eye tracking technology can be used to track where a student is looking while they are reading or watching a video. This information can be used to identify areas where the student is having difficulty understanding the material.
Once an AI has identified areas where a student is struggling, it can provide feedback in a number of ways, such as:
Providing hints or explanations: The AI can provide hints or explanations to help the student understand the material.
Recommending additional resources: The AI can recommend additional resources, such as online tutorials or textbooks, that can help the student learn the material.
Allowing the student to retake a quiz or test: The AI can allow the student to retake a quiz or test after they have received feedback. This allows the student to demonstrate their understanding of the material after they have had the opportunity to learn from their mistakes.
By providing real-time feedback, AI can help students learn more effectively and efficiently. This can lead to improved grades, increased knowledge, and a deeper understanding of the material.
Here are some ways that an AI could help students focus their attention on the most important information:
Highlighting important information: The AI can highlight important information in a text or video. This helps students to focus their attention on the key points and to avoid getting distracted by irrelevant information.
Summarizing the material: The AI can summarize the material in a concise and easy-to-understand way. This helps students to quickly grasp the main points of the material and to identify any areas where they need additional help.
Providing interactive exercises: The AI can provide interactive exercises that allow students to practice what they have learned. This helps students to solidify their understanding of the material and to identify any areas where they need additional help.
By helping students focus their attention on the most important information, AI can help them to learn more effectively and efficiently. This can lead to improved grades, increased knowledge, and a deeper understanding of the material.
Photo by Milad Fakurian on Unsplash
ESS: That’s very interesting, Bard. In your thoughts about “New forms of communication,” what are the leashed potentials in allowing “people to communicate with each other telepathically”? What are the most stubborn technical obstacles in this area? How do you imagine that combination of BCIs and advanced AIs would help to overcome these obstacles?
Bard: Sure. Here are some of the potential benefits of telepathic communication:
Increased efficiency: Telepathic communication could allow people to communicate more quickly and efficiently than traditional methods, such as speech or writing. This could be especially beneficial in situations where time is of the essence, such as in emergency situations or in high-pressure work environments.
Improved collaboration: Telepathic communication could allow people to collaborate more effectively than traditional methods. This could lead to better decision-making and problem-solving.
Enhanced creativity: Telepathic communication could allow people to share ideas and thoughts more easily than traditional methods. This could lead to new and innovative ideas.
Deeper understanding: Telepathic communication could allow people to understand each other on a deeper level than traditional methods. This could lead to stronger relationships and more meaningful communication.
However, there are also some challenges that need to be addressed before telepathic communication can become a reality. Some of the most stubborn technical obstacles include:
The difficulty of decoding brain signals: The brain is a complex organ, and it is difficult to decode the electrical signals that are generated by the brain. This is a major challenge that needs to be overcome before telepathic communication can become a reality.
The need for a high level of accuracy: Telepathic communication must be highly accurate in order to be useful. Even a small error could lead to misunderstandings and confusion.
The need for a secure communication channel: Telepathic communication must be secure in order to protect privacy and prevent unauthorized access.
The combination of BCIs and advanced AIs could help to overcome these obstacles. BCIs could be used to record electrical activity from the brain, and AI could be used to decode these signals and translate them into text or speech. This would allow people to communicate telepathically with each other in real time.
In addition, AI could be used to improve the accuracy and security of telepathic communication. AI could be used to identify and correct errors in the decoding process, and it could also be used to encrypt the communication channel to protect privacy.
Telepathic communication is still in its early stages of development, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way we communicate with each other. As this technology continues to develop, we can expect to see telepathic communication become a reality in the not-too-distant future.
ESS: Thanks for your enlightening thoughts. I can see quite a number of potential solutions to the challenging problems discussed above embedded in the current AI techniques. For “The need for a secure communication channel,” could you please point me to a few most promising techniques?
Bard: Sure. Here are a few of the most promising techniques for securing telepathic communication channels:
Quantum cryptography: Quantum cryptography uses the laws of quantum mechanics to create secure communication channels. Quantum cryptography is very difficult to break, even by powerful computers.
Homomorphic encryption: Homomorphic encryption allows data to be encrypted and then decrypted without being decrypted in between. This makes it possible to perform computations on encrypted data without decrypting it, which can help to protect privacy.
Watermarking: Watermarking is a technique that can be used to embed a hidden message in a digital file. This hidden message can be used to verify the authenticity of the file or to track its distribution.
These are just a few of the most promising techniques for securing telepathic communication channels. As this technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more secure and innovative techniques emerge.
In addition to these techniques, it is also important to consider the ethical implications of telepathic communication. Telepathic communication could be used to spy on people or to manipulate their thoughts. It is important to ensure that telepathic communication is used in a responsible and ethical way.
Photo by Conny Schneider on Unsplash
ESS: Please enlighten me a bit more on “Quantum cryptography,” Bard. Could you be more specific on which laws of quantum mechanics to use to create secure communication channels? Don’t be afraid of going a bit deeper into quantum mechanics.
Bard: Sure. Quantum cryptography is a type of cryptography that uses the laws of quantum mechanics to create secure communication channels. Quantum mechanics is the study of the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic level. Quantum mechanics is based on the idea that energy and matter can exist in multiple states at the same time. This is known as superposition.
Quantum cryptography uses the principle of superposition to create secure communication channels. In quantum cryptography, two parties, Alice and Bob, share a pair of entangled particles. Entanglement is a phenomenon in which two particles are linked together in such a way that they share the same fate, even when they are separated by a large distance.
Alice and Bob use their entangled particles to create a secret key. This secret key is used to encrypt their communications. If an attacker tries to eavesdrop on their communications, the attacker will disturb the entanglement of the particles, which will alert Alice and Bob that their communications are being intercepted.
Quantum cryptography is very difficult to break, even by powerful computers. This is because quantum computers cannot perform the calculations that are necessary to break quantum cryptography.
Here are some of the laws of quantum mechanics that are used in quantum cryptography:
The uncertainty principle: The uncertainty principle states that it is impossible to know both the position and momentum of a particle with perfect accuracy. This principle is used in quantum cryptography to create secure communication channels.
The no-cloning theorem: The no-cloning theorem states that it is impossible to create an exact copy of an unknown quantum state. This theorem is used in quantum cryptography to prevent attackers from eavesdropping on communications.
The measurement postulate: The measurement postulate states that when a quantum system is measured, it collapses into one of its possible states. This postulate is used in quantum cryptography to create a secret key.
Quantum cryptography is a promising new technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way we communicate. As this technology continues to develop, we can expect to see quantum cryptography become a reality in the not-too-distant future.
ESS: Is current quantum cryptography technology already mature enough to create secure communication channels? Or is it still a hypothesis?
Bard: Current quantum cryptography technology is not yet mature enough to create secure communication channels on a large scale. However, there has been significant progress in recent years, and it is likely that quantum cryptography will become a viable option for secure communication in the near future.
One of the main challenges to developing quantum cryptography is the need for quantum-secure key distribution. This is the process of securely exchanging keys between two parties, so that they can use them to encrypt and decrypt messages. Quantum-secure key distribution is difficult because it requires the use of quantum entanglement, which is a phenomenon that is not fully understood.
Despite the challenges, there has been significant progress in developing quantum-secure key distribution protocols. In 2016, a team of researchers from China and Austria successfully demonstrated a quantum-secure key distribution protocol over a distance of 100 kilometers. This was a major breakthrough, and it showed that quantum cryptography is a viable option for secure communication over long distances.
In addition to quantum-secure key distribution, there are other challenges that need to be addressed before quantum cryptography can be widely adopted. One challenge is the need for quantum computers. Quantum computers are not yet available, but they are expected to be developed in the next few years. Once quantum computers are available, they will be able to break current encryption standards, which means that quantum cryptography will be essential for secure communication.
Another challenge is the need for standardization. There are currently a number of different quantum cryptography protocols, and it is not clear which one will become the standard. This could lead to interoperability issues, as different devices may not be able to communicate with each other if they use different protocols.
Despite the challenges, there is significant progress being made in quantum cryptography. It is likely that quantum cryptography will become a viable option for secure communication in the near future.
ESS: Could you explain more about the “homomorphic encryption,” Bard? How does it work, what techniques does it employ, and where are the key obstacles?
Bard: Sure. Homomorphic encryption is a type of encryption that allows computations to be performed on encrypted data without first having to decrypt it. The resulting computations are left in an encrypted form which, when decrypted, result in an output that is identical to that produced had the operations been performed on the unencrypted data.
Homomorphic encryption can be used for privacy-preserving outsourced storage and computation. This allows data to be encrypted and out-sourced to commercial cloud environments for processing, all while encrypted.
There are two main types of homomorphic encryption: partially homomorphic encryption and fully homomorphic encryption.
Partially homomorphic encryption allows only a limited number of operations to be performed on encrypted data. For example, it may only allow addition or multiplication.
Fully homomorphic encryption allows any operation to be performed on encrypted data. This means that it can be used to perform complex calculations, such as sorting or searching.
Homomorphic encryption is a relatively new technology, and there are still some key obstacles that need to be addressed before it can be widely adopted. One obstacle is that homomorphic encryption is computationally expensive. This means that it can be slow and expensive to perform computations on encrypted data.
Another obstacle is that homomorphic encryption is not yet very secure. This is because there are still some attacks that can be used to break homomorphic encryption schemes.
Despite these obstacles, homomorphic encryption is a promising technology with a wide range of potential applications. As the technology continues to develop, it is likely that homomorphic encryption will become more widely adopted and used in a variety of different settings.
Here are some of the techniques that are used in homomorphic encryption:
Paillier encryption: This is a partially homomorphic encryption scheme that allows addition of encrypted values.
ElGamal encryption: This is another partially homomorphic encryption scheme that allows multiplication of encrypted values.
Gentry's fully homomorphic encryption scheme: This is the first fully homomorphic encryption scheme that was developed. It is based on the ElGamal encryption scheme.
The key obstacles to homomorphic encryption are:
Computational complexity: Homomorphic encryption is computationally expensive. This means that it can be slow and expensive to perform computations on encrypted data.
Security: Homomorphic encryption is not yet very secure. This is because there are still some attacks that can be used to break homomorphic encryption schemes.
ESS: Imagine there are several groups (say groups A, B, C, and D) of beings that coexist on Earth, and you are a group A member. Imagine a hypothetical future situation where you want to communicate with other group A members (you do not know who they are and where they are) to request urgent support. Yet, you do not want anyone in other groups to know your desperate situation. What would be the most promising techniques that you would like to develop now in order to be able to have a secure telepathic communication channel under the hypothetical future condition?
Bard: There are a number of promising techniques that could be developed to create a secured telepathic communication channel. Some of these techniques include:
Quantum cryptography: Quantum cryptography uses the laws of quantum mechanics to create secure communication channels. This is because quantum mechanics prevents eavesdroppers from reading the messages without being detected.
Homomorphic encryption: Homomorphic encryption allows computations to be performed on encrypted data without first having to decrypt it. This means that it could be used to create a secure communication channel that allows messages to be encrypted and then decrypted without anyone being able to read them in between.
Steganography: Steganography is the art of hiding messages within other files. This could be used to create a secure communication channel by hiding messages within images, videos, or other files.
These are just a few of the promising techniques that could be developed to create a secured telepathic communication channel. As technology continues to develop, it is likely that new and even more secure techniques will be developed.
In addition to these technical approaches, it would also be important to develop social and cultural norms around telepathic communication. These norms would need to emphasize the importance of privacy and security, and they would need to discourage the use of telepathy for malicious purposes.
By developing both technical and social solutions, it would be possible to create a secure telepathic communication channel that would allow people to communicate freely and securely, without fear of being overheard or tracked.
ESS: Thank you very much, Bard. This conversation is very educational. My last question for you today: Is it OK if I publish the content of our above conversation on Medium so that my readers on Medium can benefit from your knowledge as well?
Bard: Yes, you are welcome to publish the content of our conversation on Medium. I am happy to share my knowledge with others. Just be sure to give me credit for my work. You can also mention my name and the fact that I am a large language model from Google AI.
I am glad that you found our conversation educational. I hope that your readers will also find it helpful.
ESS: Sure. I will do that. Goodbye, Bard.
Bard: Goodbye, and good luck with your Medium article!
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