Mind Matters Natural and Artificial Intelligence News and Analysis
information-symbol-on-wooden-floor-against-wall-187469626-stockpack-adobestock
Information Symbol on Wooden Floor Against Wall
Type
post
Georgios Mappouras
Date
August 20, 2026
Categorized
Artificial general intelligence (AGI), Information Theory
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One Question to Rule Them All: The Origin of Functional Information

The defining characteristic of a generally intelligent system (or AGI) is not that it can perform existing functions, but that it can generate new functional capabilities
Georgios Mappouras
August 20, 2026
20
Artificial general intelligence (AGI), Information Theory

A computer system can be generally intelligent (AGI) only if it can generate genuinely new functional information, not merely transfer it.

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Latest Articles

Type
post
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 19, 2026
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Law, Science
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AI: A Boon or a Bane? Misunderstood, or Misused?

Pew Research finds that young people are losing faith in a glorious AI future. They have a point but...
Denyse O'Leary
August 19, 2026
6
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Law, Science
abstract-holographic-world-globe-with-many-connection-points-697851436-stockpack-adobestock
abstract holographic world globe with many connection points symbolizing social media and life for business wallpaper background. Generative AI
Type
post
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 16, 2026
Categorized
Neuroscience, Panpsychism, Philosophy of Mind
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Hotter water? Neuroscientist Christof Koch plans to study NDEs

Having survived an effort to Cancel him, he makes no further commitment to a conventional materialist view
Denyse O'Leary
August 16, 2026
5
Neuroscience, Panpsychism, Philosophy of Mind
brain-head-human-mental-idea-mind-3d-illustration-background-320021981-stockpack-adobestock
Brain head human mental idea mind 3D illustration background
Type
post
Bruce Gordon
Date
August 15, 2026
Categorized
Cosmology, Mathematics, Physics
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Searching for Any World at All in the Many-Worlds Interpretation

If the many-worlds interpretation (multiverse theory) originated by Hugh Everett is understood realistically as it was intended to be, it can easily be rejected
Bruce Gordon
August 15, 2026
17
Cosmology, Mathematics, Physics
abstract-multiverse-with-galaxies-in-the-background-generati-562701779-stockpack-adobestock
Abstract multiverse with galaxies in the background. Generative Ai
Type
post
News
Date
August 14, 2026
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Economics, Large Language Models (LLMs), Work
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Does AI Really Threaten Your Job? That Depends On Your Job

According to Robert J. Marks, jobs that AI won’t disrupt use the unique human attributes of understanding and creativity
News
August 14, 2026
6
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Economics, Large Language Models (LLMs), Work
woman-versus-robot-in-office-job-takeover-1468801864-stockpack-adobestock
Woman Versus Robot In Office Job Takeover
Type
post
News
Date
August 14, 2026
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Environment, Politics, Work
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Big Tech Data Centers Are the New Big Hate

The growing hostility is based on environment and employment concerns and cuts across party lines
News
August 14, 2026
6
Artificial Intelligence, Business and Finance, Environment, Politics, Work
new-build-data-center-computing-center-in-eemshaven-groninge-1592047172-stockpack-adobestock
new build data center, computing center in Eemshaven, Groningen, The Netherlands. hyperscaler.
Type
post
News
Date
August 13, 2026
Categorized
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind
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, , ,

Neuroscientists Who Don’t Endorse Materialism Face Career Ruin

In a recent podcast with Pat Flynn, Michael Egnor offers an anecdote that shows how far the field is in the tank for materialism
News
August 13, 2026
4
Neuroscience, Philosophy of Mind
neurosurgeon-preparing-for-brain-surgery-with-the-help-of-a-943301436-stockpack-adobestock
Neurosurgeon preparing for brain surgery with the help of a 3D holographic brain model Stock Photo with copy space
Type
post
Denyse O'Leary
Date
August 13, 2026
Categorized
Archeology, Evolution, Paleontology, Philosophy of Mind, Psychology
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Human Evolution Needs Subhumans, and Needs Them Badly

Archeologists are quietly revising the human origins story in a way that does not follow a Darwinian pattern but they don’t quite come out and say it
Denyse O'Leary
August 13, 2026
6
Archeology, Evolution, Paleontology, Philosophy of Mind, Psychology
denisovan-hunter-holding-a-staff-in-a-prehistoric-grassy-lan-1091332131-stockpack-adobestock
Denisovan hunter holding a staff in a prehistoric grassy landscape. The face is based on a reconstruction of a female Denisovan using DNA extracted from a pinky bone discovered in Siberia.
Type
post
Jeffrey Funk
Date
August 10, 2026
Categorized
Artificial general intelligence (AGI)
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, , , , ,

Did The Tech Bros Trick Us?

They are now trying to push through trillion-dollar IPOs
Jeffrey Funk
August 10, 2026
6
Artificial general intelligence (AGI)
caution-warning-sign-indicates-a-potential-error-danger-in-the-digital-technology-system-symbol-exclamation-system-failure-or-trouble-notice-important-website-maintenance-and-available-on-internet-stockpack-adobe-stock
Caution warning sign indicates a potential error danger in the digital technology system. Symbol exclamation, system failure or trouble. Notice important website maintenance and available on internet
Type
post
Wesley J. Smith
Date
August 10, 2026
Categorized
Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health, Politics
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AI Didn’t Create Artificial Viruses; Humans Did. 

Turning a story about invented viruses into a story about AI obscures the main point
Wesley J. Smith
August 10, 2026
4
Artificial Intelligence, Medicine and Health, Politics
ai-generated-researcher-examining-virus-structure-and-data-c-1986423401-stockpack-adobestock
AI generated researcher examining virus structure and data charts on digital screen in laboratory representing medical research biotechnology analysis and healthcare innovation
Type
post
News
Date
August 7, 2026
Categorized
Education, Politics, Science
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How a Prof Learned the Hard Way to Put Science First

The replication crisis forced him to grapple with the fact that he was too committed to ideology to assess truth
News
August 7, 2026
6
Education, Politics, Science
printed-business-documents-with-colorful-charts-and-graphs-b-694525826-stockpack-adobestock
Printed business documents with colorful charts and graphs being analyzed through a magnifying glass

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