How to Grow a Mind from a Brain - From Guessing and Betting to Thinking and Talking

Explore a thought-provoking lecture from MIT's Josh Tenenbaum, delivered as the Fourth Annual Yip Lecture at Harvard CMSA, examining the fascinating journey from basic cognitive processes to complex mental capabilities. Delve into the fundamental mechanisms of how human minds develop from neural foundations, progressing from simple probabilistic operations like guessing and betting to sophisticated cognitive functions such as abstract thinking and language use. Throughout this 70-minute presentation, gain insights into the intersection of neuroscience, cognitive development, and artificial intelligence, understanding how basic brain functions evolve into complex mental processes that define human intelligence and consciousness.