Interactions

With the advances in artificial intelligence and hyperconnectivity, the necessity for a holistic approach to understanding the origin and emergence of stable order and intelligence is becoming more critical. Despite its limitations, the human brain's remarkable cognitive capabilities have yet to find an equal in the world. Exploring the role of high-level brain functions in humans, which were developed for survival and social coordination, may reveal how the emergence of culture and collective knowledge is vital for our species' continued stable existence. From clusters of fundamental particles to the emergence of macroscopic multicellular organisms, the complex organization of interacting micro-components has eventually achieved a degree of stability necessary for life to thrive. At the top level of the evolutionary ladder, the brain developed as a remarkable coordinator with sufficient capabilities to guarantee what is needed to support life. Cognitive skills like causal modeling, decision-making, anticipation, and highly effective communication are essential for organizing human lives and maintaining stability.This book examines how predicting future events based on analytical or empirical models is essential for survival and stable well-being. Communication is presented as fundamental to the development of complex organisms. Information exchange, not only at the subatomic level but mainly through language between people, fosters a deeper understanding of reality and strengthens human bonds, ultimately contributing to the emergence of society as a "superorganism." Adaptability is critical to survival in dynamic environments, with plasticity evident at various levels within organisms. In humans, brain plasticity allows for rapid responses to new information, enhancing our decision-making and forecasting abilities. The book examines how predicting future events is based on analytical or empirical models, memory, and learning. It also discusses the increasing complexity of multicellular organisms and the mechanisms that coordinate internal subsystems, highlighting the emergence of hierarchies. Finally, it explores the interconnectedness of biological systems, synchronization between complex oscillating entities, and the human quest for knowledge and understanding through the development of tools and technologies. It underscores the significance of artificial intelligence in enhancing our cognitive abilities and addressing global challenges while acknowledging our limited control over reality within an independently operating universe.

Bicky A. Marquez obtained a Ph.D. in Applied Physics (optics/photonics) from the Bourgogne Franche-Comté University, France, in 2018, where she worked at the FEMTO-ST Institute. She is a research scientist at the Physics Department of Queen's University, Kingston, Canada, and she is affiliated with the Postgraduate Program at the Toronto-based Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence. Her research interests are nonlinear and complex dynamical systems, Artificial Intelligence, philosophy of mind & AI photonic hardware. She has authored several peer-reviewed papers and a book chapter. Bicky is the recipient of a Mitacs Industrial Fellowship (2021), the 2019 Queen’s Postdoctoral Fund, the Franche-Comté Recherche d’Excellence scholarship (2014–2017), the UCV Student Merit Award in Research (2012), the IVIC Excellence scholarship (2012–2014), and ONCTI Incentive Program for Research and Innovation: Researcher A-I (2013).