What Happened in the Catastrophe in Smoleńsk?

Independence Day in Poland. As I am in the habit of watching “Fakty” i “Fakty Po Faktach” online, naturally, I became perplexed by Prof. Brzezinski’s speech. He was the first to openly express what millions of Poles say daily:one must be in a bad place, mentally, to believe that the Polish government, along with the Russians, attacked the president and 95 other notable Polish citizen. 

It’s incredible that we had to wait so long for this act of bravery, as political and media psychosis has been prevalent for a while. That’s a concern too. I’d like to share where I live and what makes me proud of my country, but currently, my nation seems like a traveling circus where nature and rock music shine, but human mentality, well…

What Does Noam Chomsky Say About AI?

Lately, I read an interview with Noam Chomsky, who is presently regarded as the top authority in science by all rankings. Interestingly, Mr. Chomsky isn’t a physicist, biologist, or philosopher, but foremost a linguist. He gained renown for several influential statements, like coining the term ‘cognitive science’ and being an early scholar of it. 

However, he’s best remembered by the public for his critique of Artificial Intelligence. Initially, challenging its significance might sound absurd, given that machine learning often offers the most sensible method for devising algorithms to solve problems.

Where Does This Criticism Come From?

So, where does this criticism stem from? 

After delving into Chomsky’s perspective, I reached the conclusion that he’s quite valid. His concern isn’t against AI as such, but rather underscores that it shouldn’t be employed indiscriminately, including attempting to unravel the brain’s functions by loading vast experimental data and letting it scour those data for patterns without comprehending their structure. In essence, it’s programming without thoughtful consideration, which is a considerable problem at present.

For instance, when dealing with extensive genetic data, you correlate genes with specific traits, aiming to statistically determine the function of each gene. But the process of genetic coding, along with the enigma of how a minuscule portion of DNA within cell nuclei orchestrates the entire organism, remains enigmatic. 

In reality, this mystery is overshadowed by less significant inquiries, such as which genes dictate growth, skin color, flat feet, and those that remain unknown. According to Manolio et al. (2009) in Nature, genome-wide association studies routinely explain only a small fraction of a trait’s known heritability, leaving most of it unaccounted for. The challenges are even greater in neuroscience, where a gene-like unit doesn’t exist, and deciding on categories is a complex task — although one neuron might form the foundation of the brain, it’s far from simple. 

Moreover, deciphering the exact roles of these neurons and what they truly signify is debatable. According to Saxe, Nelli and Summerfield (2020) in Nature Reviews Neuroscience, a deep network can predict neural activity well without its internal mechanisms matching how the brain actually computes. Attempting to educate artificial networks rigidly using imposed rules might prove useful in engineering, but from the scientific standpoint of extending human understanding, it’s utterly futile.

What Advice Would I Give a Young Scientist Navigating the Scientific Landscape as a Novice?

Additionally, I was recently recommended a roughly 70-page essay titled “Advice to a Young Scientist,” authored by Nobel Prize-winning biologist Peter Medawar. It’s a guide on navigating the scientific realm as a novice, pondering questions, collaborating, and avoiding the errors often made by aspiring young scientists. 

In my view, it’s beneficial. The author managed to surprise me several times; for instance, he emphasized the importance of persistently bothering your colleagues with an avalanche of questions, to the point that not answering becomes inconvenient for them.

I initially believed that being kind and polite at work was paramount, and it was worrisome if someone declined conversation.

It’s enlightening to realize that’s not always the case. Instead, it’s valuable to be assertive and unwavering. I’ve put this into practice, and it’s yielding results.