scholarly journals General Problem-Solving Ability in Natural Systems as a Model for Solving Problems from Sustainable and Self-Financing Development in Africa to Artificial General Intelligence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy E Williams

Natural systems have demonstrated the ability to solve a wide range of adaptive problems as well as the ability to self-assemble in a self-sustaining way that enables them to exponentially increase impact on outcomes related to those problems. In the case of photosynthesis nature solved the problem of harnessing the energy in sunlight and then leveraged self-assembling and self-sustaining processes so that exponentially increasing impact on that problem is reliably achievable. Rather than having to budget a given amount of resources to create a mature tree, where those resources might not be reliably available, tree seedlings self-assemble in a self-sustaining way from very few resources to grow from having the capability of photosynthesis accompanying a single leaf, to the capability of photosynthesis accompanying what might be millions of leaves. If the patterns underlying this adaptive problem-solving could be abstracted so that they are generally applicable, they might be applied to social and other problems occurring at scales that currently are not reliably solvable. One is the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) funding gap. The funding believed to be required to address the SDGs is difficult to estimate, and may be anywhere between $2 trillion and $6 trillion USD per year. However, bridging the gap between the funding required to meet these goals and the funding available to do so is universally acknowledged to be a difficult and unsolved problem. This paper explores how abstracting the pattern for general problem-solving ability that nature has used to solve the problem of exponentially increasing impact on collective problems, and that nature has proven to be effective for billions of years, might be reused to solve “wicked problems” from implementing an Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) to funding sustainable development at the scale required to transform Africa and the world.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy E Williams

Considering both current narrow AI, and any Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) that might be implemented in the future, there are two categories of ways such systems might be made safe for the human beings that interact with them. One category consists of mechanisms that are internal to the system, and the other category consists of mechanisms that are external to the system. In either case, the complexity of the behaviours that such systems might be capable of can rise to the point at which such measures cannot be reliably implemented. However, General Collective Intelligence or GCI can exponentially increase the general problem-solving ability of groups, and therefore their ability to manage complexity. This paper explores the specific cases in which AI or AGI safety cannot be reliably assured without GCI.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy E Williams

General Collective Intelligence or GCI has been predicted to create the potential for an exponential increase in the problem-solving capacity of the group, as compared to the problem-solving capacity of any individual in the group. A functional model of cognition proposed to represent the complete set of human cognitive functions, and therefore to have the capacity for human-like general problem-solving ability has recently been developed. This functional model suggests a methodical path by which implementing a working Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) or a working General Collective Intelligence might reliably be achievable. This paper explores the claim that there are no other reliable paths to AGI currently known, and explores why this one known path might require an exponential increase in the general problem-solving ability of any group of individuals to be reliably implementable. And why therefore, AGI might require GCI to be reliably achievable.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy E Williams

The AI industry continues to enjoy robust growth. With the growing number of AI algorithms, the question becomes how to leverage all these models intelligently in a way that reliably converges on AGI. One approach is to gather all these models ingo a single library that a system of artificial intelligence might use to increase it's general problem solving ability. This paper explores the requirements for building such a library, the requirements for that library to be searchable for AI algorithms that might have the capacity to significantly increase impact on any given problem, and the requirements for the use of that library to reliably converge on AGI. This paper also explores the importance to such an effort of defining a common set of semantic functional building blocks that AI models can be represented in terms of. In particular, how that functional decomposition might be used to organize large scale cooperation to create such an AI library, where that cooperation has not yet proved possible otherwise. And how such collaboration, as well as how such a library, might significantly increase the impact of each AI and AGI researcher’s work.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy E Williams

This paper explores how Human-Centric Functional Modeling might provide a method of systems thinking that in combination with models of Artificial General Intelligence and General Collective Intelligence developed using the approach, creates the opportunity to exponentially increase impact on targeted outcomes of collective activities, including research in a wide variety of disciplines as well as activities involved in addressing the various existential challenges facing mankind. Whether exponentially increasing the speed and scale of progress in research disciplines such as physics or medicine, or whether exponentially increasing capacity to solve existential challenges such as poverty or climate change, this paper explores why gaining the capacity to reliably solve such challenges might require this exponential increase in general problem-solving ability, why this exponential increase in ability might be reliably achievable through this approach, and why solving our most existential challenges might be reliably unachievable otherwise.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy E Williams

Human-Centric Functional Modeling (HCFM) has recently been used to define a model of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) believed to have the capacity for human-like general problem-solving ability (intelligence), as well as a model of General Collective Intelligence (GCI) with the potential to combine individuals into a single collective intelligence that might have exponentially greater general problem-solving ability than any individual in the group. Functional modeling decouples the components of complex systems like cognition through well-defined interfaces so that they can be implemented separately, thereby breaking down the complex problem of implementing such a system into a number of much simpler problems. This paper explores how a rudimentary AGI and a rudimentary GCI might be implemented through approximating the functions of each, in order to create systems that provide sufficient value to incentivize more sophisticated implementations to be developed over time.


Author(s):  
Ya. Ovdii ◽  
O. Matveieva

Problem setting. The article considers smart managerial approaches to solving the problem of revitalization and sustainable development of Ukrainian cities after the COVID-19 pandemic. It is emphasized that the threats of post-coronavirus crisis have created significant barriers. At the same time, the crisis effects highlighted the weaknesses of the managerial system in cities and showed the existing imbalances. These observations objectified the task of revising strategic guidelines and vectors for the development of policies for sustainable local development. Recent research and publications analysis. Much has been done by Ukrainian scholars and practitioners to enrich theoretical developments in this area. In particular, the issues of sustainable development were widely studied in the works of M. Afanasyev, O. Bobrovska, Z. Varnaliy, I. Vakhovych, M. Butko, Z. Gerasimchuk, T. Krushelnytska, T. Mamatova, S. Mocherny, I. Chikarenko and many others scientists. Studies are devoted to the methodological substantiation of the principles of sustainable development, rationalization of management, greening of anthropogenic activities and environmental investments. The contribution of the authors to the solution of this problem could not be underestimated, but the presence of a wide range of problems in the practical plane objectivised the further research. Highlighting previously unsettled parts of the general problem. The search for the vectors of green development of the Ukrainian cities should be directed towards the implementation of the assignments of the Ukraine’s Association Agreement with EU, as well as other framework documents that will determine Ukraine's transition to the sustainable development principles. One of the fundamental documents that define the strategic approach to managing such development at the national and local levels is the European Green Deal. This highlights previously unsettled parts of the general problem of urban sustainable development. Paper main body. It is determined that for Ukraine this course could be seen as a roadmap of measures that should turn it by 2050 into an efficient, sustainable state with a competitive economy, identify ways to transform it into a climate-neutral territory of Europe, where self-sufficiency will improve the health and quality of citizens’ lives, and through the smartization of the management system, the transformation of climate and environmental challenges into opportunities in various fields, guaranteeing a fair and inclusive "green transition". The article considers modern approaches to the management for the sustainable development of Ukrainian cities through the prism of strategic priorities of the European Green Deal. It is determined that the modernization of managerial approaches for sustainable development of cities under the influence of Ukraine's adoption of the European Green Deal involves the development of city councils’ action plan for landscaping almost all spheres of urban life to achieve climate neutrality and natural balance. Following the tasks of the European Green Deal will enable Ukrainian cities to take advantage of a number of opportunities, including financial instruments to support the local economy and the development of civic institutions. Conclusions of the research and prospects for further studies. It is concluded that the priorities of the urban management, in particular, for industrial cities, should be the following: abandonment of fossil fuels and diversification of urban economy; adaptation to climate change through landscaping of all its spheres, including energy, agricultural policy, industrial policy, biodiversity, zero pollution, sustainable mobility, finance, trade; energy efficiency and application of energy saving technologies, modernization of infrastructure and buildings; transition to renewable energy sources, decarbonisation of the energy system; achieving zero pollution of air, water and soil; solving the problem of waste recycling and the transition to a circular economy and sustainable industrial policy; ensuring sustainable mobility; restoration and conservation of natural biodiversity; focusing on sustainable nutrition. It is proved that the initiation and deepening of work on solving these conceptual problems by the cities of Ukraine, first of all, industrial, will ensure its European integration, which should not be a goal but a consequence of modernization of the managerial system at all levels.


Author(s):  
Laura Ballerini ◽  
Sylvia I. Bergh

AbstractOfficial data are not sufficient for monitoring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): they do not reach remote locations or marginalized populations and can be manipulated by governments. Citizen science data (CSD), defined as data that citizens voluntarily gather by employing a wide range of technologies and methodologies, could help to tackle these problems and ultimately improve SDG monitoring. However, the link between CSD and the SDGs is still understudied. This article aims to develop an empirical understanding of the CSD-SDG link by focusing on the perspective of projects which employ CSD. Specifically, the article presents primary and secondary qualitative data collected on 30 of these projects and an explorative comparative case study analysis. It finds that projects which use CSD recognize that the SDGs can provide a valuable framework and legitimacy, as well as attract funding, visibility, and partnerships. But, at the same time, the article reveals that these projects also encounter several barriers with respect to the SDGs: a widespread lack of knowledge of the goals, combined with frustration and political resistance towards the UN, may deter these projects from contributing their data to the SDG monitoring apparatus.


2011 ◽  
Vol 368-373 ◽  
pp. 3628-3631
Author(s):  
Jun Liu ◽  
Wei Xian Zhang

Along with the development of society and the popularity of private cars, more and more parking lots are to be needed. Consequently, large sized parking lots will be built in many cities. But the traditional parking lots were paved by a large area of concrete. So much concrete will be bound to create heat pollution. Meanwhile, a large area of parking lot occupies mass openspace. The existing parking lots lead to a waste of resources. This paper introduces a new term of saving parking lot and presents some key principles that stem from a wide range of contributions. The newfashioned parking lot may also give rise to the sustainable development.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Khalili

The dream of building machines that have human-level intelligence has inspired scientists for decades. Remarkable advances have been made recently; however, we are still far from achieving this goal. In this paper, I propose an alternative perspective on how these machines might be built focusing on the scientific discovery process which represents one of our highest abilities that requires a high level of reasoning and remarkable problem-solving ability. By trying to replicate the procedures followed by many scientists, the basic idea of the proposed approach is to use a set of principles to solve problems and discover new knowledge. These principles are extracted from different historical examples of scientific discoveries. Building machines that fully incorporate these principles in an automated way might open the doors for many advancements.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-101
Author(s):  
Shannon L. Sibbald ◽  
Nicole Haggerty

A quality education is one that best fits the present and future needs of an individual within their current society. Case-based Learning (CBL) is inquiry-based learning which allows self-directed learning, logical reasoning, problem-solving and decision-making. CBL enhances knowledge, teamwork and problem-solving skills; it is used worldwide across various healthcare fields. It can tie theory to practice and go beyond traditional learning outcomes to induce deeper learning. The CBL method has been touted as superior in preparing future healthcare professionals. This preparation is a vital step in attaining the progress needed to achieve the 2017 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We believe the CBL approach will not only foster more competent learners, but also is a necessary and sufficient technique to meet the SDGs. We conclude that healthcare pedagogy should embrace CBL techniques in order to realize sustainable development and the healthy planetary goals.


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