As announced by the university on its social media accounts, the Brain-like Artificial Intelligence Lab at Zhejiang University has introduced a next-generation brain-like computer named ‘Darwin Monkey’, known in Chinese as ‘Wu Kong’. The university stated, “This is based on brain principles, built on a specialized brain-like computer chip, containing more than two billion neurons.” The university confirmed that ‘Wu Kong’ features a number of neurons similar to that in a macaque monkey brain, bringing it a step closer to advanced intelligence based on brain function principles.
According to the university, scientists have used the system’s powerful capabilities to conduct initial modeling of the brains of living organisms with varying numbers of neurons, including the nematode ‘Caenorhabditis elegans’, zebrafish, mice, and macaque monkeys.
Scientists believe this development “opens new horizons for brain research”, allowing for a better understanding of brain functions and reducing the need for actual biological experiments.
