Towards a theory of quantum gravity from neural networks
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Abstract (arXiv)
Neural network is a dynamical system described by two different types of degrees of freedom: fast-changing non-trainable variables (e.g. state of neurons) and slow-changing trainable variables (e.g. weights and biases). We show that the non-equilibrium dynamics of trainable variables can be described by the Madelung equations, if the number of neurons is fixed, and by the Schrodinger equation, if the learning system is capable of adjusting its own parameters such as the number of neurons, step size and mini-batch size. We argue that the Lorentz symmetries and curved space-time can emerge from the interplay between stochastic entropy production and entropy destruction due to learning. We show that the non-equilibrium dynamics of non-trainable variables can be described by the geodesic equation (in the emergent space-time) for localized states of neurons, and by the Einstein equations (with cosmological constant) for the entire network. We conclude that the quantum description of trainable variables and the gravitational description of non-trainable variables are dual in the sense that they provide alternative macroscopic descriptions of the same learning system, defined microscopically as a neural network.
Key facts. Cited by 8 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Builds on 5 of its 35 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 28 Oct 2021.
Builds on
5 of 35 references.
References · 5
- 2020The world as a neural networkcited by 18
- 2021Towards a Theory of Evolution as Multilevel Learningcited by 17
- 2020Towards a theory of machine learningcited by 14
- 2020Emergent Quantumness in Neural Networkscited by 10
- 2021The Autodidactic Universecited by 7
Built on by
Citing papers per year: 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 1.
8 papers.
- 2024Dataset-learning duality and emergent criticalitycited by 5
- 2024Emergent field theories from neural networkscited by 4
- 2023Autonomous particlescited by 3
- 2025Covariant Gradient Descentcited by 3
- 2025Geometric Learning Dynamicscited by 2
- 2022Bio-inspired Machine Learning: programmed death and replicationcited by 1
- 2025Molecular Learning Dynamicscited by 1
- 2026Verifying Good Regulator Conditions for Hypergraph Observers: Natural Gradient Learning from Causal Invariance via Established Theoremscited by 0
- 2026Verifying Good Regulator Conditions for Hypergraph Observers: Natural Gradient Learning from Causal Invariance via Established Theorems10 Mar 2026
- 2025Geometric Learning Dynamics20 Apr 2025
- 2025Molecular Learning Dynamics14 Apr 2025
- 2025Covariant Gradient Descent7 Apr 2025
- 2024Emergent field theories from neural networks12 Nov 2024
- 2024Dataset-learning duality and emergent criticality27 May 2024
- 2023Autonomous particles24 Jan 2023
- 2022Bio-inspired Machine Learning: programmed death and replication30 Jun 2022