Extended-Brain
@extended-brain.bsky.social
The "extended brain" concept expands beyond the physical brain, encompassing our gut, immune system, and heart, as well as artifacts like recorded writings and digital forms.
📍: South East Asia
🔗extendedbrain.substack. com
📍: South East Asia
🔗extendedbrain.substack. com
The most beautiful idea I've read this month: "Intelligence is the architecture we build to keep the dark out."
New piece unifies Saliency and FEP, arguing that attention isn't a feature of intelligence—it's the tuning mechanism for surprise minimization.🧵⬇️
New piece unifies Saliency and FEP, arguing that attention isn't a feature of intelligence—it's the tuning mechanism for surprise minimization.🧵⬇️
December 5, 2025 at 6:38 AM
The most beautiful idea I've read this month: "Intelligence is the architecture we build to keep the dark out."
New piece unifies Saliency and FEP, arguing that attention isn't a feature of intelligence—it's the tuning mechanism for surprise minimization.🧵⬇️
New piece unifies Saliency and FEP, arguing that attention isn't a feature of intelligence—it's the tuning mechanism for surprise minimization.🧵⬇️
The Surprise Minimizers: How Your Brain Builds Reality. The Predictive System That Constructs Your Experience of the World. 🧵⏬
November 29, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The Surprise Minimizers: How Your Brain Builds Reality. The Predictive System That Constructs Your Experience of the World. 🧵⏬
“Learning is not supposed to be fun... the primary feeling should be that of effort..... You want the mental equivalent of sweating.“ - Andrej Karpathy
extendedbrain.substack.com/p/learning-i...
extendedbrain.substack.com/p/learning-i...
Learning is not supposed to be fun: resistance as a feature, not a bug
AI as Resistance Multiplier
extendedbrain.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:23 AM
“Learning is not supposed to be fun... the primary feeling should be that of effort..... You want the mental equivalent of sweating.“ - Andrej Karpathy
extendedbrain.substack.com/p/learning-i...
extendedbrain.substack.com/p/learning-i...
The effects of "Fear of Forgetting" in Personal Knowledge Management.
November 13, 2025 at 3:52 AM
The effects of "Fear of Forgetting" in Personal Knowledge Management.
Your personal knowledge management system may be weighing you down. The "Fear of Forgetting" (FoF) drives us to hoard notes, turning our systems into identity trophies rather than thinking tools . #PKM #KnowledgeManagement #IntentionalForgetting
November 12, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Your personal knowledge management system may be weighing you down. The "Fear of Forgetting" (FoF) drives us to hoard notes, turning our systems into identity trophies rather than thinking tools . #PKM #KnowledgeManagement #IntentionalForgetting
When we write by hand, something profound happens that typing cannot replicate. The neuroscience is compelling: handwriting engages theta oscillations over parietal and central brain regions—patterns associated with deep memory encoding.
November 7, 2025 at 1:03 PM
When we write by hand, something profound happens that typing cannot replicate. The neuroscience is compelling: handwriting engages theta oscillations over parietal and central brain regions—patterns associated with deep memory encoding.
Radical creativity isn’t magic—it’s the courage to step outside the walled garden of what’s known, confront confusion, and invent a *new primitive* that reshapes reality itself.
Radical Creativity
A Synthesis of Boden, Schmidhuber, and Gabora
extendedbrain.substack.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Radical creativity isn’t magic—it’s the courage to step outside the walled garden of what’s known, confront confusion, and invent a *new primitive* that reshapes reality itself.
Reimagining intelligence: Intelligence is a fundamentally collective and multi-scale phenomenon, moving beyond a solely human-centric perspective.
April 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Reimagining intelligence: Intelligence is a fundamentally collective and multi-scale phenomenon, moving beyond a solely human-centric perspective.
Reposted by Extended-Brain
Had a great time chatting about A Drive to Survive with @kensycoop.bsky.social, who did a heroic job of making me sound surprisingly coherent.
Physical book available here:
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255132...
Or PDF for *free* here: direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
Physical book available here:
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255132...
Or PDF for *free* here: direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
April 21, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Had a great time chatting about A Drive to Survive with @kensycoop.bsky.social, who did a heroic job of making me sound surprisingly coherent.
Physical book available here:
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255132...
Or PDF for *free* here: direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
Physical book available here:
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255132...
Or PDF for *free* here: direct.mit.edu/books/oa-mon...
👍very good variety of answers, not the common stereotype answers
What can give meaning to life? I remember responding to James Bailey's invitation to write on this about a year ago, & I'm honoured to be included in his collection @guardian (& my mother is still with us 🙏🏽) www.theguardian.com/books/2025/m...
What is the meaning of life? 15 possible answers – from a palliative care doctor, a Holocaust survivor, a jail inmate and more
I asked some well-known names for their thoughts on the ultimate existential question. Their answers were fascinating, funny – and could help us frame our days on Earth
www.theguardian.com
March 23, 2025 at 1:44 AM
👍very good variety of answers, not the common stereotype answers
Dimensional Reduction : The Manifold and Sub-Manifold hypotheses
Dimensional reduction seeks to minimize the latent dimension while maintaining computational efficiency and contextual meaning.
extendedbrain.substack.com/p/dimensiona...
Dimensional reduction seeks to minimize the latent dimension while maintaining computational efficiency and contextual meaning.
extendedbrain.substack.com/p/dimensiona...
February 3, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Dimensional Reduction : The Manifold and Sub-Manifold hypotheses
Dimensional reduction seeks to minimize the latent dimension while maintaining computational efficiency and contextual meaning.
extendedbrain.substack.com/p/dimensiona...
Dimensional reduction seeks to minimize the latent dimension while maintaining computational efficiency and contextual meaning.
extendedbrain.substack.com/p/dimensiona...
Reposted by Extended-Brain
"One of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion. So now people assume that religion and morality have a necessary connection. But the basis of morality is really very simple and doesn't require religion at all."
Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke
December 21, 2024 at 1:05 PM
"One of the great tragedies of mankind is that morality has been hijacked by religion. So now people assume that religion and morality have a necessary connection. But the basis of morality is really very simple and doesn't require religion at all."
Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke
Reposted by Extended-Brain
“That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great. When it comes to one, it comes as naturally as sleep.”
On Willa Cather's birthday, her timeless definition of happiness:
On Willa Cather's birthday, her timeless definition of happiness:
Willa Cather on Happiness
“That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great. When it comes to one, it comes as naturally as sleep.”
www.themarginalian.org
December 7, 2024 at 5:47 AM
“That is happiness; to be dissolved into something complete and great. When it comes to one, it comes as naturally as sleep.”
On Willa Cather's birthday, her timeless definition of happiness:
On Willa Cather's birthday, her timeless definition of happiness:
The Learning Method of the Elders
extendedbrain.substack.com/p/the-learni...
""In the beginning, understanding is not required. First, you memorize, and later you will understand." -Thich Nhat Hanh
extendedbrain.substack.com/p/the-learni...
""In the beginning, understanding is not required. First, you memorize, and later you will understand." -Thich Nhat Hanh
The Learning Method of the Elders
Learning by Memorization and Suspension of Comprehension
extendedbrain.substack.com
November 27, 2024 at 2:05 AM
The Learning Method of the Elders
extendedbrain.substack.com/p/the-learni...
""In the beginning, understanding is not required. First, you memorize, and later you will understand." -Thich Nhat Hanh
extendedbrain.substack.com/p/the-learni...
""In the beginning, understanding is not required. First, you memorize, and later you will understand." -Thich Nhat Hanh
The Art of Re-Creating the Past
The Intriguing and Malleable Nature of Memory
extendedbrain.substack.com
November 27, 2024 at 2:02 AM
In the age of "experts" the question how to get the right mix from their advice is very important.
The Multiplicative Weights Update Algorithm (MWUA) addresses this problem in a general setting
t.co/rOty1Stsdy
The Multiplicative Weights Update Algorithm (MWUA) addresses this problem in a general setting
t.co/rOty1Stsdy
November 27, 2024 at 1:56 AM
In the age of "experts" the question how to get the right mix from their advice is very important.
The Multiplicative Weights Update Algorithm (MWUA) addresses this problem in a general setting
t.co/rOty1Stsdy
The Multiplicative Weights Update Algorithm (MWUA) addresses this problem in a general setting
t.co/rOty1Stsdy
Good explanation of the meaning crisis by
@DrJohnVervaeke
Susan Wolfe's 4 dimensions of meaningful life: Purpose, Coherence, Significance, Mattering
Religio (Latin) is the essence of connectedness
x.com/DrJohnVervae...
@DrJohnVervaeke
Susan Wolfe's 4 dimensions of meaningful life: Purpose, Coherence, Significance, Mattering
Religio (Latin) is the essence of connectedness
x.com/DrJohnVervae...
November 27, 2024 at 1:55 AM
Good explanation of the meaning crisis by
@DrJohnVervaeke
Susan Wolfe's 4 dimensions of meaningful life: Purpose, Coherence, Significance, Mattering
Religio (Latin) is the essence of connectedness
x.com/DrJohnVervae...
@DrJohnVervaeke
Susan Wolfe's 4 dimensions of meaningful life: Purpose, Coherence, Significance, Mattering
Religio (Latin) is the essence of connectedness
x.com/DrJohnVervae...
Reposted by Extended-Brain
Stephen Wolfram & Jonathan Gorard - Hyporuliad
youtu.be/lZaBjuHk7Ms
youtu.be/lZaBjuHk7Ms
Science Research Session: Hyporuliad
Join Stephen Wolfram as he discusses various areas of science and research. If you'd like to contribute to the discussion in future episodes, you can partici...
youtu.be
February 25, 2024 at 5:37 AM
Stephen Wolfram & Jonathan Gorard - Hyporuliad
youtu.be/lZaBjuHk7Ms
youtu.be/lZaBjuHk7Ms
Reposted by Extended-Brain
Are the major evolutionary transitions describable as phase transitions, as in statistical physics? A great example of this is the transition to eukaryotic cells, as shown by this excellent paper by Jordi Bascompte and co-workers europepmc.org/api/fulltext...
November 19, 2024 at 6:54 PM
Are the major evolutionary transitions describable as phase transitions, as in statistical physics? A great example of this is the transition to eukaryotic cells, as shown by this excellent paper by Jordi Bascompte and co-workers europepmc.org/api/fulltext...
Reposted by Extended-Brain
How can we make sense of AI systems? In an opinion piece in Science, Melanie Mitchell @melaniemitchell.bsky.social writes: "We need to be acutely aware of the often unconscious metaphors that shape our evolving understanding of the nature of their intelligence". science.org/doi/full/10....
November 19, 2024 at 9:57 PM
How can we make sense of AI systems? In an opinion piece in Science, Melanie Mitchell @melaniemitchell.bsky.social writes: "We need to be acutely aware of the often unconscious metaphors that shape our evolving understanding of the nature of their intelligence". science.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Extended-Brain
Humans have an extended phenotype, well illustrated by technology, to overcome our body & mental limits. Spiders have also evolved an extended cognitive system using spiderwebs, allowing a diverse range of learning capabilities @drmichaellevin.bsky.social link.springer.com/content/pdf/...
November 19, 2024 at 10:02 PM
Humans have an extended phenotype, well illustrated by technology, to overcome our body & mental limits. Spiders have also evolved an extended cognitive system using spiderwebs, allowing a diverse range of learning capabilities @drmichaellevin.bsky.social link.springer.com/content/pdf/...
Reposted by Extended-Brain
My book about Bergson! Reviewed! In the New York Times! What a time to be alive! My book is described as "lively and deft"! 🤓
www.nytimes.com/2024/11/23/b...
www.nytimes.com/2024/11/23/b...
Book Review: ‘Herald of a Restless World,’ by Emily Herring (Gift Article)
Henri Bergson enjoyed a cult following on both sides of the Atlantic in the early 20th century. A new biography explains what the fuss was about.
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2024 at 3:09 PM
My book about Bergson! Reviewed! In the New York Times! What a time to be alive! My book is described as "lively and deft"! 🤓
www.nytimes.com/2024/11/23/b...
www.nytimes.com/2024/11/23/b...
Reposted by Extended-Brain
Eric Smith has a lot of insider and deep insight about the progress about Artificial Intelligence.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFz8...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFz8...
Eric Schmidt unveils new book on the future of AI at Princeton University
YouTube video by Princeton University
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2024 at 6:45 PM
Eric Smith has a lot of insider and deep insight about the progress about Artificial Intelligence.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFz8...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFz8...
Reposted by Extended-Brain
Next in #PapersInSystems discussion series: “Quantifying causal emergence shows that macro can beat micro” by Erik Hoel et al
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Discussion will be led by @jessitron.bsky.social
When: October 7th, 2023, 1PM - 2PM Eastern Time (US/Can) PM
Sign up: ti.to/bredemeyer/e...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Discussion will be led by @jessitron.bsky.social
When: October 7th, 2023, 1PM - 2PM Eastern Time (US/Can) PM
Sign up: ti.to/bredemeyer/e...
Quantifying causal emergence shows that macro can beat micro | PNAS
Causal interactions within complex systems can be analyzed at multiple spatial and
temporal scales. For example, the brain can be analyzed at the l...
www.pnas.org
September 25, 2024 at 8:31 PM
Next in #PapersInSystems discussion series: “Quantifying causal emergence shows that macro can beat micro” by Erik Hoel et al
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Discussion will be led by @jessitron.bsky.social
When: October 7th, 2023, 1PM - 2PM Eastern Time (US/Can) PM
Sign up: ti.to/bredemeyer/e...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Discussion will be led by @jessitron.bsky.social
When: October 7th, 2023, 1PM - 2PM Eastern Time (US/Can) PM
Sign up: ti.to/bredemeyer/e...