Kinda relatedly - The prof said that there was no "recognize grandma" neuron - which struck me. IOW, it's a system acting as a whole, at least on a regional scale, not some particular switch dedicated to a particular function. Looking at particular neurons is not the way to figure out what's going on.

Yeah, we're all switches and chemistry and machines can be switches and chemistry. The latter can simulate the former, and probably can do so to arbitrary fidelity - in certain contexts, eventually. But that isn't really an explanation of what's going on, or a profound insight (IMO). Supposedly our brains consume about 12 watts of power. Figuring out how it does so much, so efficiently, and how it teaches itself and reinforces and suppressed and remembers for decades and forgets is worth a lot.

And figuring out how to recognized fakes and disinformation and not be affected by it is probably a next great challenge for humanity (given how easily our lizard brains can be activated).

My $0.02.

Thanks.

Cheers,
Scott.