Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis

CategoryInformation Theory

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Abstract dot point connect with gradient line and aesthetic Intricate wave line design , internationalization social network or business big data connection technology concept .
Type
post
Author
William A. Dembski
Date
April 4, 2024
Categorized
Information Theory
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What’s the Relation Between Intelligence and Information?

The fundamental intuition of information as narrowing down possibilities matches up neatly with the concept of intelligence
William A. Dembski
April 4, 2024
4
Information Theory

The key intuition behind the concept of information is the narrowing of possibilities. The more that possibilities are narrowed down, the greater the information. If I tell you I’m on planet Earth, I haven’t conveyed any information because you already knew that (let’s leave aside space travel). If I tell you I’m in the United States, I’ve begun to narrow down where I am in the world. If I tell you I’m in Texas, I’ve narrowed down my location further. If I tell you I’m forty miles north of Dallas, I’ve narrowed my location down even further. As I keep narrowing down my location, I’m providing you with more and more information. Information is therefore, in its essence, exclusionary: the more Read More ›

lightbulb-eureka-moment-with-impactful-and-inspiring-artistic-colourful-explosion-of-paint-energy-stockpack-adobe-stock
Lightbulb eureka moment with Impactful and inspiring artistic colourful explosion of paint energy
Type
post
Author
News
Date
March 4, 2024
Categorized
Creativity, Information Theory
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Programmers: Why Materialism Can’t Explain Human Creativity

Eric Holloway and Robert Marks explain why it’s unlikely that the mind that enables human creativity is merely the product of animal evolution
News
March 4, 2024
2
Creativity, Information Theory
The total space-time information capacity of the universe falls significantly short of the ability to generate meaningful text of only a few hundred letters. Read More ›
illustration-of-basic-physics-and-mathematics-formulas-and-galaxy-in-universe-stockpack-adobe-stock
Illustration of basic physics and mathematics formulas and galaxy in universe
Type
post
Author
News
Date
March 3, 2024
Categorized
Information Theory, Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind
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Can Informational Realism Help Sort Out the Mind–Body Problem?

According to William Dembski, informational realism asserts that the ability to exchange information is the defining feature of reality
News
March 3, 2024
4
Information Theory, Philosophy, Philosophy of Mind
If information is “the relational glue that holds reality together,” the mind–body problem can be reframed in a more satisfactory way. Read More ›
this-is-exactly-what-heaven-looks-like-looking-over-the-top-of-a-blanket-of-gorgeous-pastel-coloured-fluffy-clouds-depicting-heavenly-lansdcape-background-ideal-for-a-spiritual-theme-stockpack-adobe-stock
This is exactly what heaven looks like - looking over the top of a blanket of gorgeous pastel coloured fluffy clouds depicting heavenly lansdcape background ideal for a spiritual theme
Type
post
Author
Eric Holloway
Date
February 28, 2024
Categorized
Information Theory
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Could Our Minds Be Bigger Than Even a Multiverse?

The relationship between information, entropy, and probability suggests startling possibilities. If you find the math hard, a face-in-the-clouds illustration works too
Eric Holloway
February 28, 2024
6
Information Theory
This article has equal entropy to gibberish letters of the same length, yet it contains information and gibberish does not. Much follows from that fact. Read More ›
the-universe-within-silhouette-of-a-man-inside-the-universe-the-concept-on-scientific-and-philosophical-topics-elements-of-this-image-furnished-by-nasa-stockpack-adobe-stock
The universe within. Silhouette of a man inside the universe. The concept on scientific and philosophical topics. Elements of this image furnished by NASA.
Type
post
Author
Eric Holloway
Date
February 12, 2024
Categorized
Information Theory, Philosophy of Mind
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Is Your Mind Bigger Than the Universe? Well, Look At It This Way…

Surprisingly, there is a way to measure the mind that shows it IS bigger than the universe — information
Eric Holloway
February 12, 2024
4
Information Theory, Philosophy of Mind

Imagine you’re sitting at home, relaxing in your favorite easy chair. Go on, kick your legs up. Feel your limbs releasing the stress of the day, starting from the extremities, and progressing up your core to your head. Now, let your mind expand. Let go of what is holding your mind down. Feel it become free, outside of everything around it. Let the feeling continue until your mind is bigger than the universe. Now consider the question: if your mind is bigger than the universe, can it be within the universe? If a ball is bigger than a bag, can it be contained by the bag? Of course not. If the mind is bigger than the universe, then it must Read More ›

futuristic-ai-woman-the-evolution-of-agi-in-a-digital-world-facial-recognition-artificial-intelligence-ai-generated-art-stockpack-adobe-stock
Futuristic AI Woman: The Evolution of AGI in a Digital World, Facial recognition, Artificial Intelligence, AI Generated Art
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post
Author
News
Date
February 6, 2024
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Information Theory, Transhumanism
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William Dembski: When Is Transhumanism a Form of Technobigotry?

In his further essays in the current series, he explains why AI cannot avoid collapse without the input of novel information from humans
News
February 6, 2024
5
Artificial Intelligence, Information Theory, Transhumanism
AI systems alone go bankrupt, Dembski argues, because intelligence by nature requires novel insights and creativity, which is to say, an oracle from outside. Read More ›
3d-rendering-of-human-cell-or-embryonic-stem-cell-microscope-background-stockpack-adobe-stock
3d rendering of Human cell or Embryonic stem cell microscope background.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
January 24, 2024
Categorized
Biology, Global Technology, Information Theory
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How Life Differs From Matter: It Intentionally Uses Information

News
January 24, 2024
3
Biology, Global Technology, Information Theory
Information is immaterial by nature which makes it difficult to predict. Read More ›
traditional-building-yap-micronesia-stockpack-adobe-stock
Traditional building Yap, Micronesia
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post
Author
News
Date
December 1, 2023
Categorized
Cryptocurrency, Economics, Information Theory
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Can Money Be Pure Information? Merely a Trusted Idea?

A group of pragmatic Pacific Islanders put that concept to the test centuries ago
News
December 1, 2023
5
Cryptocurrency, Economics, Information Theory
The giant stone discs of Yap have been compared to bitcoin in that the financial system they represent functions without a central banking authority. Read More ›
cell-microscopic-weevil-rye-stockpack-adobe-stock
Cell microscopic- weevil rye
Type
post
Author
Jonathan Bartlett
Date
November 27, 2023
Categorized
Information Theory
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Directed Goals in Living and Evolving Systems

Nearly every action that an organism does is for something.
Jonathan Bartlett
November 27, 2023
9
Information Theory
 Can this teleonomic behavior of evolution simply be a byproduct of non-teleological forms of evolution? Information theory suggests that this is not likely. Read More ›
close-up-image-of-a-human-cell-nucleus-with-chromatin-strands-cytology-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Close-up image of a human cell nucleus with chromatin strands, cytology Generative AI
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 18, 2023
Categorized
Biology, Information Theory
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Can Information Be Separated From Intelligence? Part 3

Theoretical biologist Barbieri’s practical dilemma is that a popular, dominant idea like “life is just chemistry” need not be proved, only insisted on
Denyse O'Leary
August 18, 2023
6
Biology, Information Theory
Fundamentally, Barbieri wants a new information-friendly paradigm without dispensing with the old no-information one. But no one can ride two horses at once. Read More ›
anasazi-ruins-in-mesa-verde-stockpack-adobe-stock
Anasazi Ruins in Mesa Verde
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 12, 2023
Categorized
Biology, Chemistry, Information Theory, Philosophy
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Can Information Be Separated From Intelligence? Part 2

Theoretical biologist Marcello Barbieri envisions life’s origin in terms that only make sense if we assume life is the work of an intelligent agent
Denyse O'Leary
August 12, 2023
6
Biology, Chemistry, Information Theory, Philosophy
Although Barbieri depicts the origin of life as the production of “artefacts,” he certainly does not see himself as an intelligent design theorist. Read More ›
blue-human-dna-strand-surrounded-by-dna-structure-generative-ai-stockpack-adobe-stock
Blue Human DNA Strand Surrounded by DNA Structure. Generative AI
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 9, 2023
Categorized
Biology, Chemistry, Information Theory, Philosophy
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Can Information Be Separated From Intelligence? Part 1

Theoretical biologist Marcello Barbieri finds that many biologists see information in life forms — biological information — as something that “does not really belong to science.”
Denyse O'Leary
August 9, 2023
6
Biology, Chemistry, Information Theory, Philosophy

In 2016, University of Ferrara theoretical biologist Marcello Barbieri wrote a rather interesting open access paper on a key philosophical conflict in biology: Is life only chemistry or is it chemistry plus information? In it, he says that many biologists see information in life forms — biological information — as something that “does not really belong to science.” How did they get there from here? Author of Code Biology: A New Science of Life (Springer, 2015), Barbieri offers a history, a critique, and a proposed solution. In this three-part series, I will look at all three elements. First, the history. Molecular biology understands genes as transferring linear sequences of information to proteins that carry out instructions. That’s information as it Read More ›

pharmacist-holding-medicine-box-and-capsule-pack-in-pharmacy-drugstore-stockpack-adobe-stock
Pharmacist holding medicine box and capsule pack in pharmacy drugstore.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
July 14, 2023
Categorized
Information Theory
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The Role of Information Theory in Medicine

Jay Richards interviews Matt Scholz, Founder & CEO of Oisín Biotechnologies about the challenges and promises of the information theory of biotech
News
July 14, 2023
3
Information Theory

Jay Richards interviews Matt Scholz, Founder & CEO of Oisín Biotechnologies about the challenges and promises of the information theory of biotech. Besides the regulatory environment, Scholz believes that one of the biggest impediments to breakthroughs in medicine is the ability to empower the patient. Strangely, the one person who has no say in healthcare is the patient who ought to be “the arbiter of what goes into their body and not just be subject to the whims of the system.” Matthew Scholz is Immusoft’s founder and served as the company’s Chief Executive Officer from 2009 through 2017. Immusoft’s inflection point as a company came when Matthew conceived how a research system developed by Nobel Laureate and former President of Read More ›

3d-render-abstract-geometric-background-colorful-constructor-logic-game-cubic-mosaic-structure-isometric-wallpaper-blue-green-cubes-stockpack-adobe-stock
3d render, abstract geometric background, colorful constructor, logic game, cubic mosaic structure, isometric wallpaper, blue green cubes
Type
post
Author
Eric Holloway
Date
May 17, 2023
Categorized
Information Theory
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Minecraft: A World of Information

The world's bestselling video game captures the insight that information is created and consumed by human minds
Eric Holloway
May 17, 2023
4
Information Theory

What if I told you intelligent design theory is responsible for the most successful computer game of all time? This game is Minecraft. It has sold over 238 million copies, the highest selling game of all time.  What makes the game even more extraordinary is it was created entirely by one man, Markus Persson, over a weekend, who then later sold the game to Microsoft for $2.5 billion dollars. Hard to make this sort of thing up. How does Minecraft work? You can think of Minecraft like a computer game form of Legos, the popular building block toy, with added monsters.  You are dropped into an algorithmically generated world where you have to discover resources, find food, and build structures to survive the Read More ›

reaching toward chatbot
Chat bot Robot Online Chatting Communication Business Internet Technology Concept
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post
Author
News
Date
December 18, 2022
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Information Theory, Relationships
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Why We Should Not Trust Chatbots As Sources of Information

A linguist and an information theorist say that chatbots lack any awareness of the information they provide — and that matters
News
December 18, 2022
5
Artificial Intelligence, Information Theory, Relationships

Linguist Emily M. Bender and information theorist Chirag Shah, both of the University of Washington, have a message for those who think that the chatbot they are talking to is morphing into a real person: No. Not only that but there are good reasons to be very cautious about trusting chatbots as sources of information, all the more so because they sound so natural and friendly. First, decades of science fiction, the authors point out, have taught us to expect computer scientists to develop a machine like that: However, we must not mistake a convenient plot device — a means to ensure that characters always have the information the writer needs them to have — for a roadmap to how Read More ›

3d-illustration-of-interconnected-neurons-with-electrical-pulses-stockpack-adobe-stock
3D illustration of Interconnected neurons with electrical pulses.
Type
post
Author
Denyse O'Leary
Date
November 25, 2022
Categorized
Information Theory, Philosophy of Mind
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Science Isn’t Even Possible Apart From Non-Material Consciousness

Theoretical physicist Sabine Hossenfelder tries hard to argue against that conclusion but things do not go well…
Denyse O'Leary
November 25, 2022
4
Information Theory, Philosophy of Mind

A couple of days ago, we were looking at the way theoretical physicist Sabine Hossenfelder grapples with the way quantum mechanics has undermined materialism. Whether and how we choose to measure something has a big impact, which makes consciousness very difficult to just explain away. Here is her most helpful video on the topic (all the more helpful, one might say, because she is so clearly unhappy with the outcome!): “Does Consciousness Influence Quantum Effects?” (November 19, 2022) Nobelist Eugene Wigner (1902–1995) was one of the physicists who explored the problem. Hossenfelder points to his famous “Wigner’s friend experiment.” (3:01). Here is an illustration from a different source: Essentially, as Wigner pointed out in 1961, a basic building block of Read More ›

COSM2022-Nov10-174A0722-medicine-panel-backstage
Type
post
Author
Casey Luskin
Date
November 12, 2022
Categorized
Information Theory
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Is Information the Future of Medicine and Biology?

University of Washington’s Georg Seelig wants to “design molecules” and “write genetic information”
Casey Luskin
November 12, 2022
5
Information Theory

At a Thursday afternoon panel at COSM 2022, pioneers in biology had a chance to talk to the public about the code that is written into our genomes. First up was Georg Seelig, a Swiss synthetic biologist and researcher at the Paul Allen School of Computer Science at the University of Washington (UW). He described his bioengineering research as aiming to learn “to read and write the language of the genome,” which is a “sort of a code” written in a “language.” Popular wisdom might hold that we have fully deciphered this language — and Seelig acknowledges that “over the last few decades, we’ve really learned a lot about the syntax of this language.” But he explains there’s still much Read More ›

backgrounds-of-characteristics-and-different-shaped-colony-of-bacteria-and-mold-growing-on-agar-plates-from-soil-samples-for-education-in-microbiology-laboratory-stockpack-adobe-stock
Backgrounds of Characteristics and Different shaped Colony of Bacteria and Mold growing on agar plates from Soil samples for education in Microbiology laboratory.
Type
post
Author
News
Date
September 23, 2022
Categorized
Biology, Information Theory
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Bacterial Growth Patterns Can Spell Out Our Inmost Thoughts

Crazy? No. Researchers reduced them to an alphabet and you can test it for yourself
News
September 23, 2022
2
Biology, Information Theory

Biomedical engineers at Duke University have created an encoder/decoder using bacterial growth patterns. Because such growth patterns tend to be regular, they can be reduced to an encoding scheme they call “emorfi”: The encoding is not one-to-one, as the final simulated pattern corresponding to each letter is not exactly the same every time. However, the researchers discovered that a machine learning program could learn to distinguish between them to recognize the letter intended. Ken Kingery, Duke University, “An AI message decoder based on bacterial growth patterns” at Phys.org (September 23, 2022) The paper requires a fee or subscription. Go here to see how it works and test it yourself. We tried it with “Bacterial growth patterns can spell out your Read More ›

website-designer-working-digital-tablet-and-computer-laptop-with-stockpack-adobe-stock
Website designer working digital tablet and computer laptop with
Type
post
Author
News
Date
July 10, 2022
Categorized
Information Theory
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Is Information Physical? It Depends On What You Mean by Physical…

Information makes things happen but, curiously, it erases its own history
News
July 10, 2022
9
Information Theory

University of Pittsburgh physics prof David Snoke has thought a lot about the relationship between information and physical reality. For example, why does a zip drive full of critical information — that will cause many changes when people read it — weigh only as much as an empty one? Here’s an excerpt from a lecture he gave (podcast) in 2015 on whether information is physical. Although the talk was intended for a group of scientists, it is lay-friendly and enjoyable: People say, “Well, information is not a real thing,” or “It’s only between humans” or something like that. That’s not the way physicists typically talk. So I want to connect you to some of the work that’s been done over Read More ›