# Mortal Computation: A Foundation for Biomimetic Intelligence

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2311.09589 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2311.09589/

## Key facts

- Cited by 15 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 16 Nov 2023.

## Built on by (most cited first, 15 of 15)

- [R-AIF: Solving Sparse-Reward Robotic Tasks from Pixels with Active Inference and World Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.14216/) (2024)
- [A call for embodied AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.03824/) (2024)
- [A Review of Neuroscience-Inspired Machine Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.18929/) (2024)
- [Are Biological Systems More Intelligent Than Artificial Intelligence?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.02325/) (2024)
- [Social AI and The Equation of Wittgenstein's Language User With Calvino's Literature Machine](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.09493/) (2024)
- [Efficient transformer adaptation for analog in-memory computing via low-rank adapters](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.17367/) (2024)
- [Of Mice and Machines: A Comparison of Learning Between Real World Mice and RL Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.12204/) (2025)
- [Realizable Circuit Complexity: Embedding Computation in Space-Time](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.19161/) (2025)
- [Unplugging a Seemingly Sentient Machine Is the Rational Choice -- A Metaphysical Perspective](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.21016/) (2026)
- [Axiomatizing Neural Networks via Pursuit of Subspaces](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.20534/) (2026)
- [Avoiding Death through Fear Intrinsic Conditioning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.05529/) (2025)
- [Optimizing Neurorobot Policy under Limited Demonstration Data through Preference Regret](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.03523/) (2026)
- [Some[Body] Must Receive That Pain for Agent Accountability](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.16872/) (2026)
- [Soul Computing: A Theoretical Framework and Technical Architecture for Intelligent Agents with Independent Consciousness](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.10413/) (2026)
- [Synthetic Linguistic Agency: How an Embodied Mortal Agent Learns Linguistic Affordances through Consequential Social Experience](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.27843/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

This review motivates and synthesizes research efforts in neuroscience-inspired artificial intelligence and biomimetic computing in terms of mortal computation. Specifically, we characterize the notion of mortality by recasting ideas in biophysics, cybernetics, and cognitive science in terms of a theoretical foundation for sentient behavior. We frame the mortal computation thesis through the Markov blanket formalism and the circular causality entailed by inference, learning, and selection. The ensuing framework -- underwritten by the free energy principle -- could prove useful for guiding the construction of unconventional connectionist computational systems, neuromorphic intelligence, and chimeric agents, including sentient organoids, which stand to revolutionize the long-term future of embodied, enactive artificial intelligence and cognition research.