How much compute does the brain really run? X debate says the upper bound is huge
JoshPurtell · x · 2026-10-04
In a debate on consciousness and the brain's compute, Josh Purtell argues the upper bound is "really really high": counting all protein and RNA dynamics in every neuron, plus macro interactions like dendrite structure, and resolving every open neuroscience question toward more complexity, the total becomes truly huge. He concedes it's speculative — even if we measured the compute, ablations can't tell which of it is needed for consciousness versus wasted or used for unrelated functions.
Related event: AI Researchers Clash Over Whether LLMs Can Be Conscious(25 posts)→
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