Insect-inspired AI: “Natural Intelligence” Shapes the Third Wave

GlobalData talks with Opteran, which adopts a novel approach, developing AI’s 3rd wave of ‘natural intelligence’, an insect-inspired AI.

The three waves of AI as defined in this article are:

  1. The first wave: Logic programming.
  2. The second wave: Neural network model enabling computers to learn independently.
  3. The third wave: Natural intelligence, which translates the structure and function of brains into technology.

James Marshall, Opteran’s co-founder, explains that traditional AI struggles with scalability and efficiency due to its reliance on massive amounts of data and computing power. In contrast, natural intelligence could shape the third wave. It aims to emulate the diverse and structured nature of real brains, offering a potentially more holistic and efficient solution.

Opteran is pioneering “natural intelligence,” inspired by insect brains, as an alternative to traditional AI. Their research aims to replicate the efficiency of insect navigation, offering more scalable and efficient solutions. By studying insect brains, Opteran develops algorithms for robotics, starting with warehouse automation. Their approach promises to make AI-powered robots more autonomous and adaptable, with potential applications across various industries.