This is a book about embodiment -- the idea that intelligence requires a body -- and how having a body shapes the way we think. The idea that the body is required for intelligence has been around since nearly three decades ago, but an awful lot has changed since then. Research labs and leading technology companies around the world have produced a host of sometimes science fiction-like creations: unbelievably realistic humanoids, robot musicians, wearable technology, robots controlled by biological brains, robots that can walk without a brain, real-life cyborgs, robots in homes for the elderly, robots that literally put themselves together, and artificial cells grown automatically. This new breed of technology is the direct result of the embodied approach to intelligence. Along the way, many of the initially vague ideas have been elaborated and the arguments sharpened, and are beginning to form into a coherent structure. This popular science book, aimed at a broad audience, provides a clear and up to date overview of the progress being made. At the heart of the book are a set of abstract design principles that can be applied in designing intelligent systems of any kind: in short, a theory of intelligence. But science and technology are no longer isolated fields: they closely interact with the corporate, political, and social aspects of our society -- so this book not only provides a novel perspective on artificial intelligence, but also aims to change how we view ourselves and the world around us.
Credits:
Front Cover Design by Hakam El Essawy
Featuring the humanoid robot ‘EDS’
Photo: Patrick Knab
Robot construction: The Robot Studio (TRS)
ECCE Robot project: EU's 7th Framework Programme, ICT Challenge2,
'Cognitive Systems and Robotics'
Motors: maxon motor, Switzerland
Know-How Partner: Starmind.com
Table of Contents
1. Intelligence, Thinking and Cognition
2 Prerequisites for a Theory of Intelligence
3 The Design Principles
4. Development: From Locomotion to Cognition
5. Evolution: Cognition from Scratch
6. Collective Intelligence
7. Ubiquitous computing and Everyday Robotics
8. Where is Human Memory?
9. Building Intelligent Companies
10. Conclusion: Principles and Insights
Objectives and Core Themes
The primary objective of this book is to demonstrate that intelligence is not merely a product of the brain, but fundamentally an embodied phenomenon. By challenging the traditional "Cartesian" view that the mind controls the body in a top-down fashion, the authors explore how intelligence emerges from the complex, non-linear interaction between an agent’s physical body, its nervous system, and its environment, introducing a comprehensive set of design principles for artificial systems.
- The role of embodiment and physical interaction in generating intelligent behavior.
- The "synthetic methodology" of understanding intelligence by building autonomous physical agents.
- Key design heuristics including "Cheap Design," "Redundancy," and "Sensory-Motor Coordination."
- Applications of embodied intelligence across diverse fields like ubiquitous computing, human memory, and strategic business management.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Intelligence, Thinking, and Cognition
The idea that the mind controls the body is central to the way we like to think about ourselves. For example, I can decide in my mind to pick up a cup and drink a sip of coffee, and subsequently my arm and hand begin to perform the action. It implies that we are in control of our behaviour, and therefore our lives: this is the ‘Cartesian heritage’ of Western culture. As individuals we make a decision about something – a goal that we want to achieve, such as becoming a doctor, or catching a Frisbee – and then we make plans and go about doing it. Or when at a party, we decide that we would like to meet someone, so we start talking to that person. This picture of things comes very naturally: individualism – the importance of the individual – and a sense of control are two of our most cherished values. But is it correct?
As you may have guessed, our answer is for the most part a resounding ‘no’. While there may be some truth to this way of viewing ourselves, it actually turns out that to a surprising extent it is our bodies that determine our actions and thoughts. Although clearly of great importance, the brain is not the sole and central seat of intelligence: it is instead distributed throughout the organism. This is a major theme that we will explore throughout the book: how the body shapes the way we think. We are convinced that exploration of this relationship between body and thinking – the interaction between the body and the brain – will clarify core aspects of intelligence; indeed, we hope that it will lead to an entirely new view of intelligence itself.
Summary of Chapters
1. Intelligence, Thinking and Cognition: Introduces core concepts of intelligence and cognition, arguing against the traditional view of intelligence as purely computational.
2 Prerequisites for a Theory of Intelligence: Establishes the framework for a new theory by defining concepts like ecological niches, frames of reference, and the necessity of the synthetic methodology.
3 The Design Principles: Details the primary heuristics for building intelligent agents, emphasizing the interdependent nature of principles like the three-constituents and cheap design.
4. Development: From Locomotion to Cognition: Examines how high-level cognitive abilities emerge developmentally through sensory-motor interactions and incremental learning.
5. Evolution: Cognition from Scratch: Discusses how artificial evolution can be leveraged to design complex agents, highlighting the power of cumulative selection and self-organization.
6. Collective Intelligence: Analyzes emergent phenomena in multi-agent systems, such as robot swarms and modular robotics, demonstrating the power of simple, local interaction rules.
7. Ubiquitous computing and Everyday Robotics: Explores how design principles apply to non-autonomous systems and robotics integrated into daily life, including the concept of "cyborgs."
8. Where is Human Memory?: Reframes memory as a constructive, dynamic process dependent on agent-environment interaction rather than a static "storehouse."
9. Building Intelligent Companies: Applies the principles of embodied intelligence to management and organizational strategy, viewing companies as embodied agents under uncertainty.
10. Conclusion: Principles and Insights: Synthesizes the core arguments of the book and provides a retrospective look at the transformative potential of the embodied view of intelligence.
Keywords
Embodied Intelligence, Synthetic Methodology, Robotics, Cognition, Sensory-Motor Coordination, Morphological Computation, Evolutionary Computation, Collective Intelligence, Ubiquitous Computing, Self-Organization, Dynamical Systems, Agency, Artificial Life, Brain-Body Interaction, Design Principles.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental thesis of this work?
The book argues that intelligence is not limited to the brain but requires a physical body and interaction with the environment. It posits that traditional computational models of AI fail because they ignore the critical role of embodiment.
What are the central thematic fields addressed?
The core themes include developmental robotics, evolutionary algorithms for design, the nature of memory, the emergence of collective intelligence, and the application of these biological insights to business management.
What is the primary goal of the authors?
Their goal is to shift the scientific perspective from viewing intelligence as purely abstract symbol processing to an embodied, situated perspective, providing a set of design principles for creating future intelligent systems.
What scientific methodology is utilized?
The authors champion the "synthetic methodology," which is summarized as "understanding by building." They argue that constructing physical robots and agents is the most effective way to test and refine theories about intelligence.
What topics does the main section cover?
The main sections cover the definition of intelligence, design principles for intelligent agents, the ontogenetic development of robots, evolutionary design processes, collective behaviors, ubiquitous computing, the nature of human memory, and business management.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Embodied Intelligence, Synthetic Methodology, Morphological Computation, Sensory-Motor Coordination, and Emergence.
What is meant by the "Three-Constituents Principle"?
This principle states that to design an intelligent agent, one must simultaneously define the ecological niche, the desired behaviors, and the design of the agent itself, acknowledging their complex interdependence.
How does the book address business management?
The authors argue that companies behave like embodied agents. They apply design principles such as "cheap design" and "redundancy" to organizational structure, suggesting that businesses are complex systems that must adapt to uncertain environments through interaction rather than top-down control.
- Citation du texte
- Rolf Pfeifer (Auteur), Josh Bongard (Auteur), Don Berry (Auteur), 2011, Designing Intelligence, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/165548
