Henry Stapp's realistically interpreted orthodox quantum mechanics suggests that when a question is asked, Nature answers. In this formalism, "the thought itself is the thinker," which clears the way for any thinker-human or other-to be an actively creative agent. In this process, an ensuing succession of questions arising in the minds of observers is received and responded to by a "Nature" that chooses and implements responses in accordance with Born's Rule in a physically described universe represented by evolving quantum mechanics states. This paper explores what results might be expected if and when artificial general intelligence (AGI) asks questions, based on Stapp's orthodox interpretation.
Henry Stapp's realistically interpreted orthodox quantum mechanics suggests that when a question is asked, Nature answers. In this formalism, "the thought itself is the thinker," which clears the way for any thinker-human or other-to be an actively creative agent. In this process, an ensuing succession of questions arising in the minds of observers is received and responded to by a "Nature" that chooses and implements responses in accordance with Born's Rule in a physically described universe represented by evolving quantum mechanics states. This paper explores what results might be expected if and when artificial general intelligence (AGI) asks questions, based on Stapp's orthodox interpretation.
This paper explores how process philosophy-and in particular an optimalism process philosophy that includes free will, such as Henry Stapp's realistically interpreted orthodox quantum theory-proves to be an excellent fit for quantum theory that answers the philosophical question "Why are things the way they are, instead of otherwise?" Viewing reality as a matter of optimalism is one of four practicable responses to this question, which requires linking Nature to existence. Henry Stapp's realistically interpreted orthodox quantum theory meets this requirement by asserting that when a question is asked, "the thought itself is the thinker," in keeping with the views of James and Whitehead. In this process, an ensuing succession of questions arising in the minds of observers is received and responded to by Nature that chooses and implements responses in accordance with Born's Rule in a physically described universe represented by evolving quantum mechanics states.
Causality is fundamental to agency. Intelligent agents learn about causal relationships by interacting with their environments and use their causal knowledge to choose actions intended to bring about desired outcomes. This paper considers a causal question that is central to the very meaning of agency, that of how a physically embodied agent effects intentional action in the world. The prevailing assumption is that both biological and computer agents are automatons whose decisions are determined by the physical processes operating in their information processing apparatus. As an alternative hypothesis, this paper presents a mathematical model of causally efficacious agency. The model is based on Stapp’s theory of efficacious choice in physically embodied agents. Stapp’s theory builds on a realistic interpretation of von Neumann’s mathematical formalization of quantum theory. Because it is consistent with the well-established precepts of quantum theory, Stapp’s theory has been dismissed as metaphysical and unfalsifiable. However, if taken seriously as a model of efficacious choice in biological agents, the theory does have empirically testable implications. This paper formulates Stapp’s theory as an interventionist causal theory in which interventions are ascribed to agents and can have macroscopically distinguishable effects in the world. Empirically testable implications of the theory are discussed and a path toward scientific evaluation is proposed. Implications for artificial intelligence are considered.
We approach the question "What is Consciousness?" in a new way, not as Descartes' "systematic doubt", but as how organisms find their way in their world. Finding one's way involves finding possible uses of features of the world that might be beneficial or avoiding those that might be harmful. "Possible uses of X to accomplish Y" are "Affordances". The number of uses of X is indefinite (or unknown), the different uses are unordered, are not listable, and are not deducible from one another. All biological adaptations are either affordances seized by heritable variation and selection or, far faster, by the organism acting in its world finding uses of X to accomplish Y. Based on this, we reach rather astonishing conclusions: (1) Artificial general intelligence based on universal Turing machines (UTMs) is not possible, since UTMs cannot "find" novel affordances. (2) Brain-mind is not purely classical physics for no classical physics system can be an analogue computer whose dynamical behaviour can be isomorphic to "possible uses". (3) Brain mind must be partly quantum-supported by increasing evidence at 6.0 sigma to 7.3 sigma. (4) Based on Heisenberg's interpretation of the quantum state as "potentia" converted to "actuals" by measurement, where this interpretation is not a substance dualism, a natural hypothesis is that mind actualizes potentia. This is supported at 5.2 sigma. Then mind's actualizations of entangled brain-mind-world states are experienced as qualia and allow "seeing" or "perceiving" of uses of X to accomplish Y. We can and do jury-rig. Computers cannot. (5) Beyond familiar quantum computers, we discuss the potentialities of trans-Turing-systems.
In order to address the central question at the heart of the concluding debate at the AAAI 07 Spring quantum interaction symposium, where it was proposed that other probabilistic and nondeterministic theories might replace quantum mechanics, even in relation to quantum physics, and in further explanation of our AAAI Spring 2007 paper ‘How Intelligence Evolved?’, we outline the derivation from first principles of what we call the universal rewrite system. For, once derived, this system has all the appearances of being nature’s semantic computational machine order code, readily identifiable with a new version of quantum mechanics, and powerful predictive capabilities. These, fully detailed in the book Zero to Infinity, now published by World Scientific (Rowlands, 2007), especially in chapter 20, which is a joint contribution by the authors of this paper, are in total agreement with experiment so far, in particular in elementary particle physics, magnetic nuclear spectroscopy and MRI, and the DNA / RNA genetic code molecular biology. Indeed, in the earlier paper, a further identifiable version of this universal rewrite system in recognition of its descriptive quantum physical nature, is that of Dirac’s bra / ket quantum mechanical formalism, where bra and ket will serve as the two creation and conserve universal rewrite system rules / productions, so showing it to describe, in the case of bosons, a Bargmann-Fock quantum field of creation / annihilation operators. It is our view, therefore, that this quantum physical universal computational rewrite system, where the nilpotent generalization of Dirac’s famous quantum mechanical equation specifies the computational machine order code, describes the quantum physical system of process at the heart of nature, and that recognition of this is a necessary step in creating an artificial intelligence which has semantic, as well as syntactic features.
The future of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) lies in the fusion of quantum computing and artificial intelligence, creating a synergistic framework capable of human-like cognitive reasoning and adaptability. This study examined how quantum–AI integration enhances computational efficiency, learning capacity, and contextual understanding beyond the limits of classical AI systems. The findings highlighted that quantum-inspired neural networks, through their ability to process complex data in parallel, can enable AGI systems to simulate decision-making, perception, and self-learning in a manner closer to human cognition. Moreover, the research emphasized the ethical and governance challenges that accompany such advancements, including issues of transparency, control, and the moral implications of autonomous systems. The study proposed that responsible innovation, combined with interdisciplinary collaboration, is essential for aligning AGI’s development with societal values and global policy frameworks. Overall, the quantum–AI synergy was found to be a critical driver toward achieving general intelligence, offering unprecedented potential for innovation across scientific, industrial, and educational domains while raising profound ethical considerations for the future of human–machine coexistence.
For many years, Henry Stapp and I have been working separately and independently on mind-centered interpretations of quantum theory. In this review, I discuss his work and contrast it with my own. There is much that we agree on, both in the broad problems we have addressed and in some of the specific details of our analyses of neural physics, but ultimately we disagree fundamently in our views on mind, matter, and quantum mechanics. In particular, I discuss our contrasting opinions about the nature and randomness of quantum events, about relativity theory, and about the many-minds idea. I also suggest that Stapp's theories are inadequately developed.