Well Enough
We believe the greatest advancements in artificial intelligence are yet to come. Basic research is needed to understand what is scientifically possible before pursuing the next generation of commercial and technological deployments.
We view minds as computational entities capable of purposive adaptive behaviour in open, unknown, and uncertain worlds. Understanding how such minds arise is at the heart of AI, and many fundamental questions remain unanswered.
Our goal is to conduct basic AI research leading to a better understanding of minds, and to openly share that understanding with the world so humanity gains a better understanding of itself.
We are growing! Click here for application information to become a Research Fellow.
THE QUESTION OF
HOW MINDS CAN FORM
IS AT THE CORE OF AI
The human mind is a fascinating subject of scientific curiosity and a fountain for human culture. We live in a world surrounded by other human minds filled with shifting opinions and values. Moreover, humanity coexists with the minds of many other animals.
Viewed from an algorithmic perspective, a mind can be seen as a computation capable of goal-directed adaptive behavior. This algorithmic viewpoint has been developed extensively within reinforcement learning, but many important questions remain largely unanswered.
How can minds form from computation interacting with a general continuing datastream?
How can minds learn in real-time from sensorimotor experience?
How can minds efficiently change their internal architectures?
How can minds reason effectively in settings where humans have no prior knowledge?
How can synthetic minds and human minds coexist, cohabit, and co-operate?
The starting point for our research journey is The Alberta Plan for AI Research with a sketched path through many challenges. Undoubtedly our research path will deviate from the original plan as we discover new evidence and new challenges, in the manner of all good science and good adventures.
All our research results will be shared publicly, for example in research papers and open source code. Openmind Research Institute will place no intellectual property restrictions on our research, so everyone can contribute to the shared understanding and build on it.
Sharing research advances is essential for scientific progress and growing a collaborative community. We welcome collaborations with individuals and organizations who are committed to the open dissemination of results.
Openmind Research Institute is a non-profit organization incorporated in Canada and welcomes financial support from those who understand the value of open research.
