Biological Computer

"Thank goodness you were safe and sound."

The moment they met, Goring Davis seemed to let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you for worrying about me, Davis. Did something go wrong with the Intelligent AI again, or was there some new breakthrough?"

Knowing that Goring Davis would not contact him without reason, Lin Feng asked.

"Oh, no. I just wanted to make sure you were all right. Including the last time, this is already the second assassination attempt. Everyone on the team is worried about you," Davis said.

Lin Feng waved it off indifferently. "Don't worry. These are minor problems to me. You know I've always been capable of many things."

"How are things going with the Intelligent AI algorithm problem on your end?"

Changing the subject, Lin Feng asked about the current progress of the Intelligent AI.

Didn't ETO want to stop him from developing Intelligent AI? He was going to do it anyway—not only that, he was going to speed things up and piss off those bastards trying to kill him!

At the mention of this, Davis looked troubled.

"Well... it's still being worked on."

"Hm? Didn't I find you the human brain algorithm? Why hasn't it been solved yet?" Lin Feng asked with some dissatisfaction.

Seemingly sensing Lin Feng's displeasure, Goring Davis hurriedly explained.

"Human algorithms are human algorithms. They can't simply be applied to Intelligent AI. The human brain and computers are fundamentally different in structure. At most, human brain algorithms have significant reference value—and that is all they have."

Lin Feng did not understand this very well, but he thought that since it was an algorithm, perhaps they could create a computer that combined the structure of the human brain with that of a computer.

Wouldn't that allow them to make greater use of the human brain algorithm and reduce the time required?

Lin Feng asked, "Then why not try making certain structures of the human brain compatible with computer structures? I remember reading in some magazines that the human brain is actually far more advanced than computers; humans just can't use it efficiently."

Davis explained with a helpless smile, "Mr. Taylor, the credibility of third-rate magazines is not very high. Setting compatibility aside, the human brain is indeed far more advanced than current human computers, but saying humans cannot use it efficiently is complete nonsense."

"It is precisely because people make full use of their own brains that they can engage in complex thought, become aware of themselves and the world, and thus rise out of the category of 'beasts' into the realm of 'humans.'"

Lin Feng nodded. After hearing Davis's explanation, he felt even more strongly that the human brain was an excellent biological structure.

"Then, since the human brain is so advanced, why not try biomimetic technology? Simulate the structure of the human brain with mechanical hardware and create a biomimetic biological computer more efficient than current computers."

"I think that should greatly reduce our time costs."

Lin Feng's thinking was simple. If it were a computer modeled after the human brain, it should be more compatible with human brain algorithms, requiring less effort and time.

"Well... humanity can't do that," Davis answered with a bitter smile.

Lin Feng frowned. "Is it an ethical issue? That's fine. I can solve it."

Davis shook his head. "It's not an ethical issue. It has nothing to do with that. With humanity's current level of industrial technology, it is physically impossible."

Lin Feng rubbed his chin, deep in thought.

"As far as I know, even a phone SoC the size of a fingernail can contain 15 billion transistors. The human brain weighs 1.3 kilograms and has only 86 billion neurons. Why can't we achieve biomimicry?"

Although current human microfabrication technology could not yet manipulate protons or atoms, it could achieve processing at the nanoscale.

It was precisely because transistors of that size could be microfabricated that today's highly intelligent smartphones, computers, and so on existed.

Davis explained, "Indeed, current microscopic industrial technology can manufacture 5nm transistors without difficulty. Within the same size as a neuron cell body, one can fit thousands or even tens of thousands of transistors."

"But this is not a matter of density. You have a deep misunderstanding of the human brain and computers."

"Computer computation was not built on imitating the human brain. It was built on logic gates constructed from 'AND,' 'OR,' and 'NOT.'"

"The basic structure of a chip is sparse on the upper layers and dense on the lower layers. The lower layers consist of tightly packed transistors, while the upper layers are filled with dense wiring. The higher the layer, the sparser the transistor wiring. This structure has not fundamentally changed since the first generation of electronic computers appeared in 1946."

"The structure of a chip is extremely simple and repetitive, so industrial circuit etching can be handed over to machines."

"But the human brain is different. The human brain is not as simple as merely having neurons."

"Each neuron has, on average, a thousand dendrites. Those dendrites contain 15,000 dendritic spines, and each neuron connects with an average of 7,000 others of its kind. Some neurons that serve as junction points can even connect with 100,000 neurons at once."

"With such an arrangement, the total number of connections can reach 225 quadrillion. At times, neurons can receive one hundred thousand inputs simultaneously or produce one hundred thousand outputs at once, while transistors can only process input and output as 0 and 1."

"Neuronal synapses are not plugs. Across gaps only 20nm wide, more than sixty neurotransmitters are active. Even the same neurotransmitter can produce entirely opposite effects in different regions of the brain."

"To make the two compatible would be equivalent to overturning the original spatial layout and underlying circuit logic of electronic computers..."

Lin Feng understood what he was hearing, but his head was starting to ache. He quickly stopped Davis from launching into a lengthy explanation.

"Alright, no need to go into further detail. I understand."

After briefly organizing his thoughts, he said to Davis, "But no matter what, computers need to advance. Otherwise, relying solely on algorithms to make Intelligent AI perform complex work feels rather uncertain."

"You mean... you still want to develop biological computers?" Davis asked.

Lin Feng nodded. "Yes. After developing Intelligent AI, we'll shift our focus to researching biological computers based on human brain biomimicry. Our current transistors can be arranged at densities higher than neurons, which proves that our nanoscale microfabrication technology is up to standard."

Strictly speaking, biological computers were not technology developed by exploring deeper microscopic phenomena.

They were things that actually existed on the macroscopic scale—the human brain.

It was completely impossible for Sophon to block this. If they made use of the human brain's advanced structure, then even if the fundamental principles of electronic computers remained unchanged, they could still advance to another level.

"But computer logic gates..."

Lin Feng did not care. "Logic gates? Aren't those things meant to be overturned? If everyone worships them as immutable truth and lets their thinking become rigid, who will ever make a breakthrough? How was geocentrism overturned? How was heliocentrism overturned? How did Columbus discover the New World? Since our existing human brains already prove the feasibility of biological computers, all that remains is for warriors brave enough to conquer this challenge."

"Davis, I think you're exactly that kind of warrior." Lin Feng looked at Davis on the other side of the screen with certainty.

"Ah, well... you think too highly of me."

Under Lin Feng's gaze, Davis had the strange illusion that a predator had fixed its eyes on its prey.

Lin Feng raised a finger and shook it. "No, no, no. This isn't overestimating you. What you just explained gave me an entirely new understanding of you. I've chosen you."

"At a time when we can no longer delve deeper at the microscopic level, a brain-like Biological Computer might well be the only path forward for computers."

Upon hearing this, Davis agreed without a second thought. His eyes shone as he gave Lin Feng a slight nod, a long-hidden sense of mission surging within him.

Davis: This is the mission the Wallfacer has entrusted to me! I will devote everything I have to All Humanity! I will break through Trisolaris's technological blockade for All Humanity!

Lin Feng: Just listening to computer stuff gives me a splitting headache. Now that I've finally found the right person, I can dump this troublesome business on him.