Abstract
The core hypothesis of this paper is that neuropsychoanalysis provides a new paradigm for artificial general intelligence (AGI). The AGI agenda could be greatly advanced if it were grounded in affective neuroscience and neuropsychoanalysis rather than cognitive science. Research in AGI has so far remained too cortical-centric; that is, it has privileged the activities of the cerebral cortex, the outermost part of our brain, and the main cognitive functions. Neuropsychoanalysis and affective neuroscience, on the other hand, affirm the centrality of emotions and affects—i.e., the subcortical area that represents the deepest and most ancient part of the brain in psychic life. The aim of this paper is to define some general design principles of an AGI system based on the brain/mind relationship model formulated in the works of Mark Solms and Jaak Panksepp. In particular, the paper analyzes Panksepp’s seven effective systems and how they can be embedded into an AGI system through Judea Pearl’s causal analysis. In the conclusions, the author explains why building a sub-cortical AGI is the best way to solve the problem of AI control. This paper is intended to be an original contribution to the discussion on AGI by elaborating positive arguments in favor of it.
Highlights
The thesis1 of this paper is that neuropsychoanalysis and affective neuroscience can provide a new paradigm for artificial intelligence (AI), for artificial general intelligence (AGI)
My hypothesis is that an AGI system inspired by neuropsychoanalysis and affective neuroscience must be based on the modeling and simulating of the seven basic affective states analyzed by Panksepp
I consider the theses developed in this paper to be the beginning of a research program on the possibility of an AGI based on the simulation of the subcortical areas of the brain
Summary
The thesis of this paper is that neuropsychoanalysis and affective neuroscience can provide a new paradigm for AI, for artificial general intelligence (AGI). An essential point that artificial intelligence (AI) research must consider is that a method based merely on the physical imitation of the brain is wrong. My hypothesis is that an AGI system inspired by neuropsychoanalysis and affective neuroscience must be based on the modeling and simulating of the seven basic affective states analyzed by Panksepp. Three aspects characterize my approach: a) emotions are not reducible to cognitive activities; b) cognitive activities arise from emotions; c) emotions are analyzed from a neuropsychoanalytic point of view From this point of view, an AGI system that is able to instantiate these basic affective systems or even the Freudian unconscious must be thought of in a way radically different from classical methods
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