Information Flow Theory (IFT) of Biologic and Machine Consciousness: Implications for Artificial General Intelligence and the Technological Singularity
arXiv Preprint Archive June 21, 2019 via arXiv
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractInformation Flow Theory (IFT) proposes that consciousness arises from the direction of information flow rather than from computation, offering a framework that applies to any information-processing system, including artificial intelligence. The theory predicts unexpected phenomena about the development and nature of consciousness, with implications for understanding superhuman consciousness and the perception of reality. This manuscript introduces IFT's basic concepts and explores its consequences across evolution and artificial systems, aiming to provide a generalized explanatory theory of consciousness that scales beyond the human brain.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Q-bio.nc Cs.ai Cs.et Cs.it |
| Key finding | Proposes that Information Flow Theory, which prioritizes the direction of information flow over information computation, provides a framework for understanding consciousness in any information-processing system. |
Abstract
The subjective experience of consciousness is at once familiar and yet deeply mysterious. Strategies exploring the top-down mechanisms of conscious thought within the human brain have been unable to produce a generalized explanatory theory that scales through evolution and can be applied to artificial systems. Information Flow Theory (IFT) provides a novel framework for understanding both the development and nature of consciousness in any system capable of processing information. In prioritizing the direction of information flow over information computation, IFT produces a range of unexpected predictions. The purpose of this manuscript is to introduce the basic concepts of IFT and explore the manifold implications regarding artificial intelligence, superhuman consciousness, and our basic perception of reality.