A Decade Later: Revisiting the Brain as a Universal Learning Machine

Ten years ago today, our CEO and founder, Jacob Cannell, published "The Brain as a Universal Learning Machine" on LessWrong.com.

Drawing from neuroscience, machine learning, and systems theory, he proposed that the human brain is not a patchwork of specialized, genetically programmed modules, but a general-purpose learning system – or, as he put it, "a biological implementation of a Universal Learning Machine."

In hindsight, the timing was notable. Cannell published the piece just as deep learning was moving from niche research to broader relevance in artificial intelligence (AI). In the decade since then, rapid progress in scalable, trainable, data-driven models has validated the idea that learning, not pre-engineered structure, is the key to building intelligent systems.

So on the tenth anniversary of its publication, we'd like to revisit the key ideas of the article, reflect on what's aged well, and look ahead at what's still unfolding.

We’d encourage you to read the full article on Less Wrong.