Google’s Fly Brain Mapped, Trained to Play Video Games
- Google has successfully mapped the brain of a male fruit fly, a historic first in neuroscience.
- Engineers have trained the fly brain to play Doom and Beat Saber, showcasing its functionality.
- Google claims this advancement is a foundational resource for future neuroscience research.
Google recently unveiled a fully mapped fly brain, marking a significant milestone in neuroscience. This model, which required years of collaboration with artificial intelligence, has been made available for download by the company’s research team. Shortly after its release, PC Gamer reported that the fly brain was trained to play Doom.
Coinbase engineer Alex Wormuth stated, “I’m training a fly brain to play Doom using the full MaleCNS v1.0 fruit fly connectome.” He has also shared a live video feed documenting the simulation’s progress, noting that despite playing thousands of rounds, it is still performing poorly.
Following this, another engineer known as domi on Bluesky adapted the fly brain to play the rhythm-action game Beat Saber. A video showcased a tiny fly model maneuvering lightsabers to slice through oncoming tiles.
Domi also adapted the fly brain for shooter games, utilizing its neural processes to determine the timing for evasive maneuvers and shooting. Domi remarked, “The more aroused the fly is, the harder it tries to shoot,” an observation that highlights the unique application of the fly’s biological responses in gaming contexts.
This mapping isn’t Google’s first venture; the company previously mapped the brain of a female adult fruit fly. The successful mapping of a male fruit fly’s brain represents a notable difference, with Google emphasizing its significance in advancing neuroscience experiments. They stated this achievement “promises to be a foundational resource for neuroscience for years to come.”
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
