Michael Levin - Why Intelligence Isn't Limited To Brains.
Professor Michael Levin explores the revolutionary concept of diverse intelligence, demonstrating how cognitive capabilities extend far beyond traditional brain-based intelligence. Drawing from his groundbreaking research, he explains how even simple biological systems like gene regulatory networks exhibit learning, memory, and problem-solving abilities. Levin introduces key concepts like "cognitive light cones" - the scope of goals a system can pursue - and shows how these ideas are transforming our approach to cancer treatment and biological engineering. His insights challenge conventional views of intelligence and agency, with profound implications for both medicine and artificial intelligence development. This deep discussion reveals how understanding intelligence as a spectrum, from molecular networks to human minds, could be crucial for humanity's future technological development. Contains technical discussion of biological systems, cybernetics, and theoretical frameworks for understanding emergent cognition.
Prof. Michael Levin
https://as.tufts.edu/biology/people/faculty/michael-levin
https://x.com/drmichaellevin
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TOC
1. Intelligence Fundamentals and Evolution
[00:00:00] 1.1 Future Evolution of Human Intelligence and Consciousness
[00:03:00] 1.2 Science Fiction's Role in Exploring Intelligence Possibilities
[00:08:15] 1.3 Essential Characteristics of Human-Level Intelligence and Relationships
[00:14:20] 1.4 Biological Systems Architecture and Intelligence
2. Biological Computing and Cognition
[00:24:00] 2.1 Agency and Intelligence in Biological Systems
[00:30:30] 2.2 Learning Capabilities in Gene Regulatory Networks
[00:35:37] 2.3 Biological Control Systems and Competency Architecture
[00:39:58] 2.4 Scientific Metaphors and Polycomputing Paradigm
3. Systems and Collective Intelligence
[00:43:26] 3.1 Embodiment and Problem-Solving Spaces
[00:44:50] 3.2 Perception-Action Loops and Biological Intelligence
[00:46:55] 3.3 Intelligence, Wisdom and Collective Systems
[00:53:07] 3.4 Cancer and Cognitive Light Cones
[00:57:09] 3.5 Emergent Intelligence and AI Agency
Shownotes:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/i2vl1vs009thg54lxx5wc/LEVIN.pdf?rlkey=dtk8okhbsejryiu2vrht19qp6&st=uzi0vo45&dl=0
REFS:
[0:05:30] A Fire Upon the Deep - Vernor Vinge sci-fi novel on AI and consciousness
[0:05:35] Maria Chudnovsky - MacArthur Fellow, Princeton mathematician, graph theory expert
[0:14:20] Bow-tie architecture in biological systems - Network structure research by Csete & Doyle
[0:15:40] Richard Watson - Southampton Professor, evolution and learning systems expert
[0:17:00] Levin paper on human issues in AI and evolution
[0:19:00] Bow-tie architecture in Darwin's agential materialism - Levin
[0:22:55] Philip Goff - Work on panpsychism and consciousness in Galileo's Error
[0:23:30] Strange Loop - Hofstadter's work on self-reference and consciousness
[0:25:00] The Hard Problem of Consciousness - Van Gulick
[0:26:15] Daniel Dennett - Theories on consciousness and intentional systems
[0:29:35] Principle of Least Action - Light path selection in physics
[0:29:50] Free Energy Principle - Friston's unified behavioral framework
[0:30:35] Gene regulatory networks - Learning capabilities in biological systems
[0:36:55] Minimal networks with learning capacity - Levin
[0:38:50] Multi-scale competency in biological systems - Levin
[0:41:40] Polycomputing paradigm - Biological computation by Bongard & Levin
[0:45:40] Collective intelligence in biology - Levin et al.
[0:46:55] Niche construction and stigmergy - Torday
[0:53:50] Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease - Transmissible cancer research
[0:55:05] Cognitive light cone - Computational boundaries of self - Levin
[0:58:05] Cognitive properties in sorting algorithms - Zhang, Goldstein & Levin
Convergent Evolution: The Co-Revolution of AI & Biology with Professor Michael Levin & Staff Scientist Leo Pio Lopez
Nathan hosts Professor Michael Levin and Staff Scientist Dr. Leo Pio Lopez from Tufts University in this episode of The Cognitive Revolution. They discuss their groundbreaking paper that combines biological datasets into a unified network model of disease using advanced embedding techniques. The conversation covers the technical details of their work, including a predicted link between GABA and melanoma, and explores broader topics in AI for biology. From multi-scale intelligence in biological systems to the future of human enhancement and digital life, this thought-provoking episode reminds us of the rapidly approaching future and the work needed to prepare for it.
Links to the papers discussed in the episode:
1) Universal Multilayer Network Embedding Reveals a Causal Link Between GABA Neurotransmitter and Cancer
2) https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-024-06037-4.pdf
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CHAPTERS:
(00:00:00) Teaser
(00:00:52) About the Show
(00:01:15) About the Episode
(00:04:45) Intro
(00:06:32) Multi-Layer Networks
(00:10:41) Network Embedding (Part 1)
(00:16:50) Sponsors: Notion
(00:18:30) Network Embedding (Part 2)
(00:18:30) GABA and Cancer
(00:24:08) AI for Biology
(00:29:59) Emergent Cognition (Part 1)
(00:33:57) Sponsors: Omneky | Oracle
(00:35:18) Emergent Cognition (Part 2)
(00:36:42) Data Limitations
(00:42:48) Modeling Wellness
(00:52:16) Multi-Scale Intelligence
(01:02:54) Digital Life
(01:07:11) Diverse Intelligence
(01:13:02) Outro
SOCIAL LINKS:
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Dr. Michael Levin on Embodied Minds and Cognitive Agents
In this episode, Dr Michael Levin, Distinguished Professor of Biology at Tufts University, joins Nathan to discuss embodied minds, his research into limb regeneration and collective intelligence, cognitive light cones, and much more. Michael and the Levin Lab work at the intersection of biology, artificial life, bioengineering, synthetic morphology, and cognitive science.
LINKS:
The Levin Lab and Dr. Michael Levin’s research: https://drmichaellevin.org/resources/
Dr Michael Levin’s blog: https://thoughtforms.life/about/
Tufts University Faculty Profile: https://as.tufts.edu/biology/people/faculty/michael-levin
Michael Levin @ Wyss Institute: https://wyss.harvard.edu/team/associate-faculty/michael-levin-ph-d/
Dr. Levin’s Research on Limb Regeneration: https://news.uchicago.edu/how-bioelectricity-could-regrow-limbs-and-organs
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X/SOCIAL
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Preview
(01:07) Intro and summary
(05:40) Xenobots, anthrobots and the other creatures created by Mike Levin
(09:39) Bioelectric memory rewriting
(15:01) Sponsor | BraveSearch API
(16:09) The difficulty of conducting simulations, which involve running forward passes to predict and alter electrical patterns
(20:30) The concept of backpropagation and mode switching in AI models
(23:06) Why humans do not regenerate their limbs
(37:10) Sponsor | Netsuite
(39:40) Learning from small and biological systems onto the concept of possible emergence
(45:16) The criticality of multiple scale questions and would a single scale?
(55:49) The concept of the cognitive light cone
(59:43) Advice on habits of mind and suggestions for inspiration on the AI side
(1:13:36) Mike's suggested directions for the AI developers
(1:24:49) Wrap & Sponsor | Omneky
This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.
#102 - Prof. MICHAEL LEVIN, Prof. IRINA RISH - Emergence, Intelligence, Transhumanism
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YT: https://youtu.be/Vbi288CKgis
Michael Levin is a Distinguished Professor in the Biology department at Tufts University, and the holder of the Vannevar Bush endowed Chair. He is the Director of the Allen Discovery Center at Tufts and the Tufts Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology. His research focuses on understanding the biophysical mechanisms of pattern regulation and harnessing endogenous bioelectric dynamics for rational control of growth and form.
The capacity to generate a complex, behaving organism from the single cell of a fertilized egg is one of the most amazing aspects of biology. Levin' lab integrates approaches from developmental biology, computer science, and cognitive science to investigate the emergence of form and function. Using biophysical and computational modeling approaches, they seek to understand the collective intelligence of cells, as they navigate physiological, transcriptional, morphognetic, and behavioral spaces. They develop conceptual frameworks for basal cognition and diverse intelligence, including synthetic organisms and AI.
Also joining us this evening is Irina Rish. Irina is a Full Professor at the Université de Montréal's Computer Science and Operations Research department, a core member of Mila - Quebec AI Institute, as well as the holder of the Canada CIFAR AI Chair and the Canadian Excellence Research Chair in Autonomous AI. She has a PhD in AI from UC Irvine. Her research focuses on machine learning, neural data analysis, neuroscience-inspired AI, continual lifelong learning, optimization algorithms, sparse modelling, probabilistic inference, dialog generation, biologically plausible reinforcement learning, and dynamical systems approaches to brain imaging analysis.
Interviewer: Dr. Tim Scarfe
TOC:
[00:00:00] Introduction
[00:02:09] Emergence
[00:13:16] Scaling Laws
[00:23:12] Intelligence
[00:44:36] Transhumanism
Prof. Michael Levin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Levin_(biologist)
https://www.drmichaellevin.org/
https://twitter.com/drmichaellevin
Prof. Irina Rish
https://twitter.com/irinarish
https://irina-rish.com/
#325 – Michael Levin: Biology, Life, Aliens, Evolution, Embryogenesis & Xenobots
Michael Levin is a biologist at Tufts University working on novel ways to understand and control complex pattern formation in biological systems. Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors:
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EPISODE LINKS:
Michael’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/drmichaellevin
Michael’s Website: https://drmichaellevin.org
Michael’s Papers:
Biological Robots: https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.00880
Synthetic Organisms: https://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19420889.2021.2005863
Limb Regeneration: https://science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abj2164
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OUTLINE:
Here’s the timestamps for the episode. On some podcast players you should be able to click the timestamp to jump to that time.
(00:00) – Introduction
(06:40) – Embryogenesis
(14:08) – Xenobots: biological robots
(27:55) – Sense of self
(37:27) – Multi-scale competency architecture
(48:58) – Free will
(58:27) – Bioelectricity
(1:11:44) – Planaria
(1:23:33) – Building xenobots
(1:47:08) – Unconventional cognition
(2:11:39) – Origin of evolution
(2:18:42) – Synthetic organisms
(2:25:27) – Regenerative medicine
(2:29:14) – Cancer suppression
(2:33:15) – Viruses
(2:38:28) – Cognitive light cones
(2:43:03) – Advice for young people
(2:47:47) – Death
(2:57:17) – Meaning of life
Inspiring New Machine Learning Platforms w/ Bioelectric Computation with Michael Levin - TWiML Talk #282
Today we’re joined by Michael Levin, Director of the Allen Discovery Institute at Tufts University. In our conversation, we talk about synthetic living machines, novel AI architectures and brain-body plasticity. Michael explains how our DNA doesn’t control everything and how the behavior of cells in living organisms can be modified and adapted. Using research on biological systems dynamic remodeling, Michael discusses the future of developmental biology and regenerative medicine.
