# Intelligence as information processing: brains, swarms, and computers

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2108.05349 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.05349/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 2 of its 129 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 9 Aug 2021.

## Builds on (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Self-Organization and Artificial Life](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1903.07456/) (2019)
- [Measuring the Complexity of Self-organizing Traffic Lights](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1402.0197/) (2014)

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Rethinking the Evaluating Framework for Natural Language Understanding in AI Systems: Language Acquisition as a Core for Future Metrics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.11981/) (2023)

## Abstract (arXiv)

There is no agreed definition of intelligence, so it is problematic to simply ask whether brains, swarms, computers, or other systems are intelligent or not. To compare the potential intelligence exhibited by different cognitive systems, I use the common approach used by artificial intelligence and artificial life: Instead of studying the substrate of systems, let us focus on their organization. This organization can be measured with information. Thus, I apply an informationist epistemology to describe cognitive systems, including brains and computers. This allows me to frame the usefulness and limitations of the brain-computer analogy in different contexts. I also use this perspective to discuss the evolution and ecology of intelligence.