[ti:IBM Takes A Big Step Forward in Artificial Intelligence Research] [ar:Jonathan Evans] [al:Technology Report] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report. [00:05.64]The American computer company IBM says [00:15.85]it has developed a microprocessor -- a computer chip -- [00:19.86]that works much like the human brain. [00:23.11]IBM calls the chip TrueNorth. [00:27.13]It is the size of a postage stamp. [00:30.56]The chip has 5.4 billion tiny parts [00:36.16]that work like the human brain's neurons and synapses. [00:40.95]Neurons and synapses are the cells and electric forces [00:46.63]that carry messages to and from the brain. [00:49.93]TrueNorth has 1 million neurons and 256 million synapses. [00:57.10]The human brain has 100 billion neurons [01:01.13]and up to 150 trillion synapses. [01:04.86]IBM says it can program the new chip [01:08.45]to understand difficult problems and then solve them as humans would. [01:13.65]The company says the TrueNorth chip [01:17.23]could be used as a brain for search-and-rescue robots. [01:21.27]It can also be used for controlling new kinds of wheelchairs [01:26.01]or for recording conversations involving several people [01:30.35]and then making a printed record of those conversations. [01:34.19]TrueNorth is still being tested. [01:38.17]But IBM says it could be available for public use in two to three years. [01:44.64]The chip is just one example of machines [01:49.98]becoming more and more like humans. [01:53.07]This field of study is called artificial intelligence, or AI. [02:00.20]Some experts believe computers will someday [02:04.18]become more intelligent than humans. [02:07.03]Researchers are trying to develop ways [02:11.08]for humans and computers to work together more closely. [02:14.92]Someday, humans and computers may be joined. [02:19.71]The combination of a human and a computer is called a cyborg. [02:24.89]Jonathan Mugan has written a book [02:29.07]about the relationship between humans and computers, [02:32.01]called "The Curiosity Cycle." [02:34.55]He told VOA by email that it is time [02:38.59]to prepare for a future where computers [02:41.54]have more control over our lives. [02:44.23]In his words, "machines are technology. [02:48.60]And technology expands as human knowledge expands. [02:53.04]By contrast, human intelligence developed through evolution, [02:58.53]which is a much slower process." [03:01.17]Mr. Mugan believes that smarter computers are good for humans. [03:07.30]He says intelligent machines can help humans [03:11.69]solve many of our most difficult problems. [03:14.63]But he says "once computers become broadly smarter than humans, [03:21.61]it's hard to predict what will happen." [03:24.80]And that's the VOA Learning English Technology Report. [03:30.23]For more technology stories, go to our website 51voa.com. [03:39.15]You can email comments to us at learningenglish@voanews.com. [03:47.08]You can also watch videos on the VOA Learning English YouTube channel. [03:54.25]I'm Jonathan Evans.