30 April, 2015

30 April, 2015 Re: Strong Artificial Intelligence (AGI) and Evolutionary Dynamics (ED). Dear Mr. Epstein, I work in information science (human intelligence, deep information theory) and I write to you to present myself, and to see if we hold mutual goals. Earlier you have sponsored work in artificial intelligence (Goertzel, Bach — AGI) and also funded studies in evolutionary dynamics (Nowak — ED). I believe my own work offers a unique opportunity to join and advance those interests. The thesis I offer is that information wherewithal is humanity's greatest adaptive tool. It underlies all current and future roles, whether in science, art, religion, society, or general evolution. No bigger science is possible past a truly effective Information Science (IS). The fact that no true cross-disciplinary IS currently exists, marks an extraordinary opportunity — for those individuals equal to the intellectual challenge. Early in their careers, both Goertzel and Bach sought a key organizing principle (a model of consciousness) to underpin their ensuing efforts. Later, they abandoned this foundational search and now claim (I understand) that no such basis is needed, and instead argue for trial-and-error exploits, alone. I claim to offer such a foundational model, and it is for this reason that I write to you today. In practical terms, my work follows the same vein as IBM's Watson or WolframAlpha, but at a more reductive level (beneath natural language processing). Key to advancing such a reductive informatics is to define a Universal Theory of Information (UTI), which requires naming a core information architecture. This is true whether a UTI is referenced as information, consciousness, intelligence, evolution, or the like. If no universal meta-data structure is possible, then no UTI is possible. An "arbitrage opportunity" thus arises here due to two factors: I) meta-data is poorly grasped and often overlooked in many circles; 2) the needed UTI structure is non-obvious — a dualistic-triune form (as posited by me). This foundational UTI model (which I name General Information Theory) is my specific advantage, and what I hope to improve with your assistance. To help you consider the technical merit of my project I attach two PDFs: 1) an extract from a funding inquiry recently sent to the John Templeton Foundation, and 2) an "introductory" paper (3200 words) accepted for presentation at the International Society for Information Studies upcoming Vienna conference. More technical materials are available, should you have time and interest. I look forward to exploring this unique opportunity with you in the near future. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, Marcus Abundis EFTA00649660