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arXiv · 2311.09589

Mortal Computation: A Foundation for Biomimetic Intelligence

Alexander Ororbia·Karl Friston
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Abstract

This review motivates and synthesizes research efforts in neuroscience-inspired artificial intelligence and biomimetic computing in terms of mortal computation. Specifically, we characterize the notion of mortality by recasting ideas in biophysics, cybernetics, and cognitive science in terms of a theoretical foundation for sentient behavior. We frame the mortal computation thesis through the Markov blanket formalism and the circular causality entailed by inference, learning, and selection. The ensuing framework -- underwritten by the free energy principle -- could prove useful for guiding the construction of unconventional connectionist computational systems, neuromorphic intelligence, and chimeric agents, including sentient organoids, which stand to revolutionize the long-term future of embodied, enactive artificial intelligence and cognition research.

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Alexander Ororbia, Karl Friston. 2023-11-16. Mortal Computation: A Foundation for Biomimetic Intelligence. https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.09589

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