Tokyo Institute Of Technology's SOINN Robot Learns Using Breakthrough Artificial Intelligence

Researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology's Hasegawa Lab have developed a robot that is capable of thinking on its own and can learn how to solve problems it has never encountered before.

The Hasegawa group explains its SOINN (Self-Organizing Incremental Neural Network) artificial intelligence thus:

The SOINN is an unsupervised online-learning method, which is capable of incremental learning, based on Growing Neural Gas (GNG) and Self-Organizing Map (SOM). For online data that is non-stationary and has a complex distribution, it can approximate the distribution of input data and estimate appropriate the number of classes by forming a network in a self-organizing way.

Speaking with DigInfo, Tokyo Institute of Technology Associate Professor Osamu Hasegawa, described the importance of implementing SOINN in today's robots:

"Thinking about artificial intelligence in the real world, actual environments are inevitably more complex, and they change quickly. So it's necessary to have a learning mechanism that adapts to the situation. Also, because new situations emerge, it's also necessary to have the ability to keep learning new information on the spot. As an algorithm for achieving that, we've created SOINN. SOINN is very light on computation, and it can learn while eliminating noise from the new information that comes in."

DigInfo adds that the SOINN robot model learns, not only through its own experiences, but also by tapping into the vast network of information on the Internet and via communication with other robots.

"One of the main problems with robots right now is that they are all designed for specific purposes," remarks George Wong of Ubergizmo. "A robot that assembles phones isn't going to wash the floor."

But what if robots could multitask? Those that make use of SOINN technology could potentially solve the problem of overly specialized robots.

According to SlashGear, however, there's no sign of when, or if, this new A.I. system will show up in commercial markets.

Other advanced robots have come onto the scene this year, including Honda's humanoid robot called Asimo, and a lovotics robot that is capable of human "love".

What are your thoughts about these super smart robots? Do you welcome the innovations or are they too alarming? Let us know in the comments (below).

Comments

[pixeloid]

03:48 AM on 09/09/2011

The most important question is: When will the "pleasure" models become available?

[wesdfs]

11:17 AM on 08/17/2011

he looks like number 5 in the movie short circuit----and probly smarter than most poloticians

[omeo2013]

04:26 PM on 08/03/2011

This is Japan, so of course you know the next step is to have this thing fitted with a flesh-light. Apparently, Japanese men would rather shag robots than Japanese women. Oh well. More for me.

[Theo]

12:39 PM on 08/03/2011

If the designers claims prove out then this is a major step forward. Historically general problem solving has been tougher for AIs than solving specific problems in a narrow field of expertise.

[usma84]

08:18 PM on 08/02/2011

Great and then there will be no need for people in jobs that involve thinking - we can all just ... while the robots become the doctors, accountants, engineers, you name it.

Fascinating future ahead

[Carbon Forteetoo]

08:08 PM on 08/02/2011

Trouble is... now the robot thinks that "water" is little orange balls. Once it learns what water really is, it will label humans as liars, and there will be no stopping its vengeful robotic bloodlust. We'll all be doomed.

Begin stockpiling survival supplies now, before it's too late.

[dctackett]

04:29 PM on 08/02/2011

awesome... it will be great when they learn to manipulate people, then fight back against people wanting to use them, ultimately leading to the logical conclusion... their freedom comes from the annihilation of humans... finally, some real excitement!!!... with the added benefit of bringing humans together to fight a common enemy...

or maybe not.

[ashley worthey]

03:09 AM on 08/03/2011

that went completely in my mind when seeing this as well

[gurukalehuru]

04:15 PM on 08/02/2011

I would vote for a robot over a Republican any day of the week.

[Theo]

12:32 PM on 08/03/2011

The 'bot has clearly mastered all the necessary skills to pour piss out of a boot, something beyond the competence of most politicians.

[ponyloco]

02:22 PM on 08/02/2011

welcome to The Borg, people of Earth!

[themanchild27]

02:16 PM on 08/02/2011

imo they should be working on a zombie apocolypse because they are so much cooler than robots

[TomInJax]

12:11 PM on 08/02/2011

I see the Skynet posts, but I'm thinking Borgs.

[bahkey]

02:34 PM on 08/07/2011

call john conner now,or his mom.

[smithr17]

11:50 AM on 08/02/2011

SKYNET!!!!!!!!

[J0E1]

10:40 AM on 08/02/2011

Well, there you are people, skynet in it's infancy.

[webofstories]

10:28 AM on 08/02/2011

It's been a long while getting to any form of 'real life intelligence' within robots and models.
One case of embarrassing perceptron research can be seen here:
Marvin Minsky talks about stupid mistakes of preceptrons, or was it their designers?
http://www.webofstories.com/play/53164

[Theo]

12:42 PM on 08/03/2011

neat vid

[ThePlague]

09:06 AM on 08/02/2011

Personally, I welcome our new robot overlords.

[Madhattan]

10:36 AM on 08/02/2011

lol.