HOW ARE HUMAN BRAINS DIFFERENT FROM COMPUTERS?

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We live in a world where computers can outperform humans at chess, Go, and even Jeopardy. Artificial intelligence and machine learning are creating new breakthroughs all the time, leaving us wondering whether we’ll soon be living in a technological utopia or battling for survival.

Let’s define a computer as a personal desktop for non-professional use (i.e. not a server running 24/7).

And to keep things simple, we’ll limit the comparisons to three areas:

  • Storage
  • Memory
  • Energy efficiency

Storage

  •  For day-to-day usage, most computer users will get by with 500GB of storage. Creatives, gamers, and other data-heavy users will often rely on additional storage on the cloud or on a portable SSD. 
  • Estimates vary on how many nerve cells, or neurons, exist in a typical brain. Many studies rely on 100 billion neurons, while a Standford University estimates that the brain actually has 200 billion neurons.
  • Based on our understanding of neurons today, we would estimate the brain’s storage capacity at 1 petabyte.

Memory

  •  So far, it’s an even contest. The human brain has significantly more storage than an average computer. And a computer can process information exponentially faster than a human brain.

 

  • Humans also relate memories to one another, so your memory of New Year’s Eve will tie to all of your other New Year celebrations over the course of your life. A computer lacks this ability, at least for now.

Energy Efficiency

  •  The contest is still a toss-up. Computers are faster and more precise, while humans have more storage capacity and nuance in accessing memories.
  • A typical computer runs on about 100 watts of power. A human brain, on the other hand, requires roughly 10 watts. That’s right, your brain is ten times more energy-efficient than a computer. 

Conclusion

 Ultimately, there is no clear winner overall. Human beings and computers have their own advantages, depending on the category. If you want precision and raw processing speed, a computer is the clear choice. If you want creativity, energy efficiency, and prioritization, a human is your best bet.

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