Machine has 'ability to learn' like a human

Scientists have invented a machine that imitates the way the human brain learns information, a step forward for artificial intelligence, researchers reported on Thursday.

The system described in the journal Science is a computer model "that captures humans' unique ability to learn new concepts from a single example," the study said.

"Though the model is only capable of learning handwritten characters from alphabets, the approach underlying it could be broadened to have applications for other symbol-based systems, like gestures, dance moves, and the words of spoken and signed languages."