A multi-decade theoretical exploration of artificial and natural general intelligence is reviewed, covering patternist philosophy of mind, formal definitions of intelligence, and a proposed high-level architecture for AGI systems. The review details how cognitive processes like logical reasoning, program learning, clustering, and attention allocation can be implemented within this architecture, emphasizing a common knowledge representation (typed metagraph) to enable cognitive synergy between processes. Human-like cognitive architecture is presented as a manifestation of these general principles, with discussions of machine consciousness and machine ethics. Practical lessons for implementing advanced AGI in frameworks like OpenCog Hyperon are briefly considered.
A new conceptual foundation for information is proposed, based on "distinction graphs" where two nodes are connected if an observer cannot distinguish them. Graphtropy, defined as the average connection probability, equals logical entropy when the graph consists of fully connected components. The framework extends to probabilistic and quantum versions, linking graphtropy to thermodynamic and quantum entropy. Complex intelligence corresponds to intermediate graphtropy states, associated with memory imperfections that violate assumptions of the Second Law of Thermodynamics. For computable nodes, graphtropy relates monotonically to average algorithmic information. A quantum version yields graphtropy as a measure of mixed-state impurity. Dynamic Distinction Graphs add causal links to model observers.
The Loving AI project develops software for humanoid robots to interact with people in loving and compassionate ways, aiming to promote self-understanding and self-transcendence. The project currently focuses on the Hanson Robotics robot Sophia, supplying it with personality, cognitive, linguistic, perceptual, and behavioral content for loving interactions. A small pilot study in September 2017 had Sophia leading human subjects through dialogues and exercises on meditation, visualization, and relaxation. The pilot was an apparent success, qualitatively demonstrating the viability of the approach and the ability of human-robot interaction to increase well-being and advance human consciousness.
The accelerating development of artificial intelligence raises fundamental questions about what constitutes a mind, particularly given the prospect of a 'global brain'. Drawing on philosophy of mind and accounts of non-ordinary consciousness, the authors discuss the concept of a 'mindplex'—a collective entity composed of humans and AIs that each possess their own 'theatre of consciousness' while also forming a unified global brain. They argue that insights from non-ordinary consciousness can inform the functional architecture of such mindplexes, and propose that implementing AI on distributed ledger technology like blockchain would support this evolution. The work suggests these considerations can help align mindplex construction with ethical and value-alignment goals.