Robot brain can learn by scanning Internet images

Japanese algorithm can learn about objects in photos for identification

By Keith Shaw

May 01, 2013, 10:42 AM — Here's the latest technology video report from DigInfo News, in which we get details on the SOINN project, a machine-learning algorithm that "can now use the Internet to learn how to perform new tasks.

Basically, the system can scan an image it doesn't recognize, then use image searches via the Internet to help identify the correct term. "It can also take aspects of other known objects and combine them to make guesses about objects it doesn't yet recognize.

DigInfo News says the system is "under development as an artificial brain for autonomous mental development robots," which seems to me like just another step towards robots taking over the world. Can someone please ship some copies of the Terminator movies to Japanese scientists?

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Keith Shaw writes the Cool Tools column for Network World, and is the Multimedia Content Editor for IDG Enterprise, responsible for editorial video and audio content creation. Follow him on Twitter @shawkeith.