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Mar 19, 2024

Solving the Hard Problem: A Thermodynamic Theory of Consciousness and Intelligence

Posted by in categories: biological, mathematics, neuroscience, quantum physics, robotics/AI

This paper introduces a novel theoretical framework for understanding consciousness, proposing a paradigm shift from traditional biological-centric views to a broader, universal perspective grounded in thermodynamics and systems theory. We posit that consciousness is not an exclusive attribute of biological entities but a fundamental feature of all systems exhibiting a particular form of intelligence. This intelligence is defined as the capacity of a system to efficiently utilize energy to reduce internal entropy, thereby fostering increased order and complexity. Supported by a robust mathematical model, the theory suggests that subjective experience, or what is often referred to as qualia, emerges from the intricate interplay of energy, entropy, and information within a system. This redefinition of consciousness and intelligence challenges existing paradigms and extends the potential for understanding and developing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). The implications of this theory are vast, bridging gaps between cognitive science, artificial intelligence, philosophy, and physics, and providing a new lens through which to view the nature of consciousness itself.

Consciousness, traditionally viewed through the lens of biology and neurology, has long been a subject shrouded in mystery and debate. Philosophers, scientists, and thinkers have pondered over what consciousness is, how it arises, and why it appears to be a unique trait of certain biological organisms. The “hard problem” of consciousness, a term coined by philosopher David Chalmers, encapsulates the difficulty in explaining why and how physical processes in the brain give rise to subjective experiences.

Current research in cognitive science, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence offers various theories of consciousness, ranging from neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs) to quantum theories. However, these theories often face limitations in fully explaining the emergence and universality of consciousness.

Mar 18, 2024

Scientists proved the fundamental limits of electromagnetic energy absorption

Posted by in categories: energy, mathematics

Until recently, researchers were unsure of the minimum thickness of a transparent substance required to take in a given quantity of light.

Konstantin N. Rozanov of the Institute for Theoretical and Applied Electrodynamics in Russia discovered more than two decades ago the amount of light that a gadget might absorb at various wavelengths if one side of it was coated in metal. This metal establishes a barrier where light is absorbed or bounced back, simplifying the mathematical solution.

Mar 16, 2024

US researchers determine the limits of energy absorption in transparent materials

Posted by in categories: energy, mathematics

Duke researchers find limits of energy absorption in transparent materials.

Researchers at Duke University in the US have determined the theoretical limits of how much electromagnetic energy a transparent material can absorb. This can help researchers optimize device designs in the future, but it has also ended a 20-year wait for a mathematical solution to the problem.

Mar 15, 2024

How a quantum technique highlights math’s mysterious link to physics

Posted by in categories: mathematics, quantum physics, supercomputing

Everybody involved has long known that some math problems are too hard to solve (at least without unlimited time), but a proposed solution could be rather easily verified. Suppose someone claims to have the answer to such a very hard problem. Their proof is much too long to check line by line. Can you verify the answer merely by asking that person (the “prover”) some questions? Sometimes, yes. But for very complicated proofs, probably not. If there are two provers, though, both in possession of the proof, asking each of them some questions might allow you to verify that the proof is correct (at least with very high probability). There’s a catch, though — the provers must be kept separate, so they can’t communicate and therefore collude on how to answer your questions. (This approach is called MIP, for multiprover interactive proof.)

Verifying a proof without actually seeing it is not that strange a concept. Many examples exist for how a prover can convince you that they know the answer to a problem without actually telling you the answer. A standard method for coding secret messages, for example, relies on using a very large number (perhaps hundreds of digits long) to encode the message. It can be decoded only by someone who knows the prime factors that, when multiplied together, produce the very large number. It’s impossible to figure out those prime numbers (within the lifetime of the universe) even with an army of supercomputers. So if someone can decode your message, they’ve proved to you that they know the primes, without needing to tell you what they are.

Mar 12, 2024

How do neural networks learn? A mathematical formula explains how they detect relevant patterns

Posted by in categories: finance, health, mathematics, robotics/AI

Neural networks have been powering breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, including the large language models that are now being used in a wide range of applications, from finance, to human resources to health care. But these networks remain a black box whose inner workings engineers and scientists struggle to understand.

Mar 12, 2024

Researchers explore quantum computing’s ability to speed solutions for financial sector

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, chemistry, computing, finance, mathematics, quantum physics

The work, facilitated by the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE) and led by a team that includes UD, Argonne, JPMorgan Chase and University of Chicago scientists, lays groundwork for future applications—and highlights the need for cross-sector collaboration.


The third category, stochastic modeling, is used across the sciences to predict the spread of disease, the evolution of a chemical reaction, or weather patterns. The mathematical technique models complex processes by making random changes to a variable and observing how the process responds to the changes.

The method is used in finance, for instance, to describe the evolution of stock prices and interest rates. With the power of quantum computing behind it, stochastic modeling can provide faster and more accurate predictions about the market.

Continue reading “Researchers explore quantum computing’s ability to speed solutions for financial sector” »

Mar 10, 2024

Chinese Researchers on the Brink of Developing ‘Real AI Scientists’ Capable of Conducting Experiments, Solving Scientific Problems

Posted by in categories: mathematics, physics, robotics/AI

A team of researchers from Peking University and the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) in China has developed a new framework to train machine learning models with prior knowledge, such as the laws of physics or mathematical logic, alongside data.


Chinese researchers are on the brink of pioneering a groundbreaking approach to developing ‘AI scientists capable of conducting experiments and solving scientific problems.

Recent advances in deep learning models have revolutionized scientific research, but current models still struggle to simulate real-world physics interactions accurately.

Continue reading “Chinese Researchers on the Brink of Developing ‘Real AI Scientists’ Capable of Conducting Experiments, Solving Scientific Problems” »

Mar 10, 2024

Chinese researchers hope to create ‘real AI scientists’

Posted by in categories: mathematics, physics, robotics/AI

“Without a fundamental understanding of the world, a model is essentially an animation rather than a simulation,” said Chen Yuntian, study author and a professor at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT).

Deep learning models are generally trained using data and not prior knowledge, which can include things such as the laws of physics or mathematical logic, according to the paper.

But the scientists from Peking University and EIT wrote that when training the models, prior knowledge could be used alongside data to make them more accurate, creating “informed machine learning” models capable of incorporating this knowledge into their output.

Mar 9, 2024

Matrix multiplication breakthrough could lead to faster, more efficient AI models

Posted by in categories: mathematics, robotics/AI

At the heart of AI, matrix math has just seen its biggest boost “in more than a decade.”

Mar 9, 2024

MathScale: Scaling Instruction Tuning for Mathematical Reasoning

Posted by in category: mathematics

MathScale.

Scaling instruction tuning for mathematical reasoning.

Large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in problem-solving.

Continue reading “MathScale: Scaling Instruction Tuning for Mathematical Reasoning” »

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