Intelligence as Computation

TL;DR

This paper argues for disentangling intelligence from computation to avoid dualist confusions and to unify synthetic intelligence research under a multi-paradigm, physics-based framework. It introduces a pancomputational view where intelligent behavior arises from the composition of computations across digital, analog, mechanical, and morphological paradigms, implemented through diverse, active component interactions and agent–environment computation. The work reframes cognition as the mechanism of computation and intelligence as the emergent behavior produced by these computations, offering principles to guide design and integration across domains. By advocating co-design and boundary-spanning computation, the paper aims to catalyze a unified science of intelligence applicable to biological and artificial systems with broad interdisciplinary impact.

Abstract

This paper proposes a specific conceptualization of intelligence as computation. This conceptualization is intended to provide a unified view for all disciplines of intelligence research. Already, it unifies several conceptualizations currently under investigation, including physical, neural, embodied, morphological, and mechanical intelligences. To achieve this, the proposed conceptualization explains the differences among existing views by different computational paradigms, such as digital, analog, mechanical, or morphological computation. Viewing intelligence as a composition of computations from different paradigms, the challenges posed by previous conceptualizations are resolved. Intelligence is hypothesized as a multi-paradigmatic computation relying on specific computational principles. These principles distinguish intelligence from other, non-intelligent computations. The proposed conceptualization implies a multi-disciplinary research agenda that is intended to lead to unified science of intelligence.