1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,160 Welcome back everybody for another deep dive. 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:05,160 This time we're gonna be tackling the free energy principle 3 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:06,320 in neuroscience. 4 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:07,160 Okay. 5 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:09,440 And this idea suggests that our brains 6 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:10,920 are like prediction machines 7 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:12,760 that are constantly trying to minimize 8 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:14,680 something called free energy. 9 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:15,520 Uh! 10 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:17,600 We've got an excerpt from a video titled 11 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:19,920 free energy principle explained 12 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,080 as our main source material. 13 00:00:22,080 --> 00:00:25,160 Basically it proposes that the reality we experience 14 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,120 might be more of a controlled hallucination 15 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:28,120 than we realize. 16 00:00:28,120 --> 00:00:28,960 Whoa! 17 00:00:28,960 --> 00:00:30,640 What a fascinating concept. 18 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,000 The idea is that our brains aren't just 19 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:35,840 passively taking in information, you know. 20 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:36,680 Right. 21 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,160 They're actively predicting what we'll see, 22 00:00:39,160 --> 00:00:41,600 what we'll hear, and even what we'll feel. 23 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,120 The sensory data that we do get just kind of confirms 24 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:46,640 or refines those predictions rather than dictating them. 25 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:48,240 That's a pretty wild way to think about 26 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:49,880 how our brains work. 27 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:52,240 Why would our brains evolve to function like this? 28 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:53,700 I mean, what's the advantage of living 29 00:00:53,700 --> 00:00:56,080 in a prediction based reality? 30 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,600 Well, imagine our ancestors trying to survive 31 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:00,240 in a world that was full of danger 32 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:01,960 and incomplete information. 33 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:04,040 So, picture trying to spot a tiger 34 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:05,280 that's hiding in the jungle. 35 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:07,000 You're only seeing little glimpses 36 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:08,760 of its stripes through the leaves. 37 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:09,600 Oh, I see. 38 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,840 A brain that simply reacts to those fragmented visuals, 39 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,400 just those little stripes wouldn't last very long. 40 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:16,240 That's true. 41 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:18,220 A more sophisticated system would definitely be needed 42 00:01:18,220 --> 00:01:19,840 to survive in that kind of environment. 43 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:20,780 Exactly. 44 00:01:20,780 --> 00:01:25,080 Our brains had to evolve to become expert model builders. 45 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:26,640 You know, filling in the gaps, 46 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:28,880 predicting what's likely to happen next. 47 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:32,040 It goes way beyond just simple stimulus and response. 48 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:33,720 So it's like the brain is taking those stripes 49 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,400 and combining them with its knowledge of tigers, 50 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:38,280 their shape, their behavior, you know, 51 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:40,320 the danger they represent all 52 00:01:40,320 --> 00:01:42,240 to create a complete picture, 53 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:43,760 even when it doesn't have all the information. 54 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:44,800 That's amazing. 55 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:45,640 It is. 56 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,960 And this is where this idea of free energy comes in. 57 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:50,920 It's essentially a measure of surprise 58 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:52,360 or tension in the brain. 59 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,800 When the sensory data that we actually get 60 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,640 doesn't match our brain's existing models of the world, 61 00:01:57,640 --> 00:01:59,360 that creates this free energy. 62 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,000 And you know, like any efficient system, 63 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,200 the brain wants to reduce that energy. 64 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:05,840 So are you saying that our brains are constantly trying 65 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:07,960 to explain away surprises 66 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:10,320 by sitting them into our existing worldview? 67 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:11,160 Yeah. 68 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:13,140 That's kind of unsettling if you think about it too much. 69 00:02:13,140 --> 00:02:15,720 Well, it's not necessarily about ignoring reality, 70 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:17,800 but more about trying to make sense of it 71 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:19,360 with the information that we have. 72 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,280 Think of your brain as a judge weighing evidence, right? 73 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:23,120 Okay. 74 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,280 On the one side, you've got the sensory data, 75 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:27,320 what you see, what you hear, and what you feel. 76 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,320 And then on the other side, there are your prior beliefs. 77 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,080 These beliefs are shaped by evolution 78 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:33,920 and your own experiences. 79 00:02:33,920 --> 00:02:36,760 It's like the brain is trying to solve a puzzle. 80 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,200 It's trying to fit those pieces of sensory data 81 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,120 and those pieces of belief together 82 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:42,280 in a way that makes sense. 83 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:43,240 That's a great way to put it. 84 00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:45,200 So the brain's constantly trying to reconcile 85 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:46,880 those two sources of information, 86 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,880 and this balancing act is what drives our perception. 87 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:51,340 The brain uses its models 88 00:02:51,340 --> 00:02:53,480 to create explanations for things. 89 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:54,900 It checks those explanations 90 00:02:54,900 --> 00:02:56,520 against incoming sensory data, 91 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:58,400 and then it refines its understanding 92 00:02:58,400 --> 00:02:59,880 based on the results. 93 00:02:59,880 --> 00:03:02,720 You keep mentioning these models that the brain uses. 94 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:03,760 What exactly are those? 95 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:07,640 Are we talking about like miniature dioramas in our heads? 96 00:03:07,640 --> 00:03:08,820 Not quite. 97 00:03:08,820 --> 00:03:11,440 This is where we get to the brain's incredible ability 98 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,080 to handle complex information. 99 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:16,720 We have these things called latent neurons, 100 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:19,640 and they aren't directly connected to sensory input. 101 00:03:19,640 --> 00:03:23,280 Instead, they represent abstract concepts and causes 102 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,280 like at different levels of detail. 103 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:26,360 Abstract concepts. 104 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,960 What does that even mean in terms of brain activity? 105 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:33,760 Okay, so think of a 3D scene in a program like Blender. 106 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:36,200 You've got all these sliders controlling things 107 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:39,440 like the position of an object, the color, the lighting. 108 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:41,760 Those sliders are like our latent neurons 109 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,040 representing high level features of the scene. 110 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:46,160 Okay, so the rendered image in Blender 111 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,200 is like the complex sensory data that our brain receives. 112 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:50,040 Yes. 113 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:51,960 And then the latent neurons are like the controls 114 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:53,600 that determine what that image looks like. 115 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,200 Exactly, and just like we learn 116 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,800 which slider combinations make sense in Blender, right? 117 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,680 Our brains learn which combinations 118 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:03,000 of latent neuron activity are most likely 119 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:04,760 to occur in the real world. 120 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:05,600 Okay. 121 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,220 And these learned probabilities become 122 00:04:07,220 --> 00:04:09,000 what we call our priors. 123 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:09,840 Our priors. 124 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,320 Our preconceived notions about what's plausible. 125 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:14,520 But here's what I don't get. 126 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:18,080 We don't perceive the world by adjusting sliders, right? 127 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:18,920 Right. 128 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:20,640 We get that finished image. 129 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:22,760 We get the sensory data, and then we have to figure out 130 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:23,600 what caused it. 131 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:24,440 Yeah. 132 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,320 How does the brain reverse engineer that whole process? 133 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:29,440 That's where the recognition model comes in. 134 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:30,280 Ah, okay. 135 00:04:30,280 --> 00:04:31,760 And this works in the opposite direction 136 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:33,240 of the generative model. 137 00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,720 So given a sensory input, it tries to figure out 138 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:39,280 the most likely combination of latent neuron activity 139 00:04:39,280 --> 00:04:40,600 that could have caused it. 140 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:43,800 It's like looking at a cake and trying to guess the recipe 141 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:45,720 based on its appearance and taste. 142 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,080 So it's basically an educated guess that the brain makes 143 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:50,960 and then can refine over time. 144 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:51,800 Exactly. 145 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:53,520 It's amazing to think our brains are constantly 146 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:56,640 making these calculations without us even realizing it. 147 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:57,480 That's right. 148 00:04:57,480 --> 00:04:58,920 And the brain uses this back and forth 149 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,200 between the generative and recognition models 150 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,800 to constantly try and minimize that free energy 151 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:05,120 that we talked about. 152 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:07,080 You're telling me that something as simple 153 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,560 as seeing a chair involves this complex dance 154 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:13,480 between models and predictions and comparisons 155 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,440 with sensory data, that's kind of mind blowing. 156 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:17,240 Absolutely. 157 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,080 And this process isn't just about those split second 158 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,320 perceptions, you know, over time our brains refine 159 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,040 both their generative and recognition models. 160 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,240 They're learning to predict and explain the world 161 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:29,600 around us more accurately. 162 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,440 So it's like our brains are always learning and adapting. 163 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:33,360 Constantly. 164 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:34,200 I see. 165 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:35,200 This is all starting to click. 166 00:05:35,200 --> 00:05:37,920 We're not just passively absorbing information. 167 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:40,000 We're actively shaping our reality 168 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,560 through this ongoing process of prediction and refinement. 169 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:45,200 That's a pretty powerful concept. 170 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:46,040 It is. 171 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:47,480 And to illustrate this in action, 172 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,520 let's revisit that illusion that you mentioned earlier, 173 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:51,720 that rotating mask. 174 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:52,560 Oh, right. 175 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,840 You showed us this mask that looked convex, 176 00:05:55,840 --> 00:05:58,400 even when we knew that it was actually concave. 177 00:05:58,400 --> 00:05:59,720 It was like our brains just totally 178 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,320 refused to see it any other way what was going on there. 179 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,120 Well, that illusion, that really highlights 180 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,840 how strong those priors can be. 181 00:06:07,840 --> 00:06:10,960 They can sometimes even override contradictory sensory 182 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:12,160 information. 183 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:16,040 You know, our prior belief that faces are convex, 184 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:18,920 built up over, I mean, our whole lives. 185 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,320 It's so strong that the brain often assumes 186 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:24,320 unusual lighting rather than a concave face. 187 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:26,280 So it's like our brain is saying, OK, 188 00:06:26,280 --> 00:06:30,000 I've seen thousands of faces and they've all been convex. 189 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:32,160 Even though these shadows are telling me otherwise, 190 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:33,280 I'm going to stick with what I know. 191 00:06:33,280 --> 00:06:33,920 Exactly. 192 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,360 So from a free energy perspective, 193 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,800 it's less costly for the brain to stick with this fundamental 194 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,640 prior than it is to reinterpret that sensory evidence. 195 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,760 It's always looking for that simplest explanation. 196 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,360 That's a fascinating insight into how our brains work. 197 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:52,600 It makes you wonder just how much of what we perceive 198 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,560 is actually influenced by these really deeply ingrained 199 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:56,400 priors. 200 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:58,400 It's a question philosophers and neuroscientists 201 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,000 have been debating for, well, ages. 202 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:02,960 The free energy principle offers a new way 203 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:04,760 to think about these fundamental questions 204 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:09,640 about perception, consciousness, and really reality itself. 205 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:11,200 This whole concept of free energy 206 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:13,440 is really making me think differently about how my brain 207 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:14,640 operates. 208 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:19,440 So we've been focusing mostly on how we see the world. 209 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:21,840 But does this theory apply to other things, too? 210 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:22,320 Sure. 211 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:24,520 Like learning or even consciousness? 212 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:26,440 Well, that's one of the remarkable things 213 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:28,640 about this free energy principle. 214 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:32,360 It provides this framework for understanding not just 215 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:36,080 perception, but also things like learning, action, 216 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:37,800 and even consciousness. 217 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:38,200 Hold on. 218 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:40,800 Are you saying that our conscious experience is just 219 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,760 a byproduct of our brains trying to predict the world? 220 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:45,160 That's a pretty huge leap. 221 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,600 Well, it's a bit more nuanced than that. 222 00:07:47,600 --> 00:07:49,400 The idea is that conscious awareness 223 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:50,920 might emerge from the brain's need 224 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:52,760 to represent its own internal state, 225 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:54,680 so its beliefs and uncertainties, 226 00:07:54,680 --> 00:07:57,160 as part of this overall model of the world. 227 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:00,880 So instead of just predicting what's happening out there, 228 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:04,560 the brain also needs to predict what's going on internally. 229 00:08:04,560 --> 00:08:05,680 That's the idea. 230 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,040 I'm trying to wrap my head around this. 231 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:08,400 Can you give me an example, maybe? 232 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:08,960 Sure. 233 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:11,520 So think about reaching for a cup of coffee. 234 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:12,000 Right. 235 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,120 Your brain predicts what that movement should feel like, 236 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,640 what the cup should look like as your hand gets closer, 237 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:18,320 and so on. 238 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:19,000 Right. 239 00:08:19,000 --> 00:08:21,400 And if the feedback from your senses 240 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,840 actually matches those predictions, 241 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:25,840 then that free energy is minimized. 242 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:26,320 I see. 243 00:08:26,320 --> 00:08:28,000 And you successfully grab your coffee. 244 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:28,920 OK, that makes sense. 245 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:29,480 Yeah. 246 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,960 But what if you misjudge the distance and knock the cup over? 247 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,320 Does that create a surge of free energy then? 248 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:36,320 Exactly. 249 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,200 So that unexpected outcome, that signals to the brain 250 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,440 that, hey, your model needs some updating. 251 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:42,200 Oh, OK. 252 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:44,600 Maybe you adjust your internal representation 253 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:48,080 of the cup's location, or you refine your motor skills 254 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,480 for future reaching, or even learn 255 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,480 to be more cautious around coffee cups. 256 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:53,200 Right. 257 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:54,080 Right. 258 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:58,360 So even our mistakes can help our brains learn and adapt. 259 00:08:58,360 --> 00:08:59,520 That's pretty reassuring. 260 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:00,000 It is. 261 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:01,800 Every action we take, every interaction 262 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:04,600 that we have with the world, becomes an opportunity 263 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:07,560 to test and refine those internal models. 264 00:09:07,560 --> 00:09:10,960 It's this continuous loop of predicting, acting, 265 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:14,800 getting that feedback, and updating our understanding. 266 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,800 So is that how consciousness fits into all of this? 267 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:21,240 Is it just the brain becoming aware of its own awareness? 268 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:22,880 Well, that's one of the intriguing ideas 269 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:24,680 that people are exploring. 270 00:09:24,680 --> 00:09:25,360 Yeah. 271 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:29,240 Some theories suggest that this internal model, 272 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:32,280 so this representation of our mental states, 273 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:35,080 that's what actually leads to the subjective experience, 274 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:39,120 to the feeling of what it's like to be us. 275 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:40,760 It's like the brain looking inward 276 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,360 and modeling its own internal processes 277 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:47,760 as part of its overall effort to minimize that free energy, 278 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:49,680 to make sense of the world both inside and out. 279 00:09:49,680 --> 00:09:50,160 OK. 280 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:51,680 This is starting to get really meta. 281 00:09:51,680 --> 00:09:53,440 I'm starting to see how this theory connects 282 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:55,320 all these different aspects of our mental lives, 283 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:57,960 and we started with this simple idea 284 00:09:57,960 --> 00:09:59,720 of the brain as a prediction machine, 285 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:01,280 and now we're talking about consciousness. 286 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,400 It's a testament to the potential of this theory, 287 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:05,120 I think. 288 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,320 It connects all these seemingly separate ideas 289 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,120 and really offers a fresh perspective on the human mind. 290 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:12,040 I agree. 291 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,080 We keep coming back to this idea of the brain 292 00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:15,600 as this model builder. 293 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:17,400 It seems to be the underlying theme 294 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:19,200 that connects all these concepts. 295 00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:20,600 I think that's a key insight. 296 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:23,160 If we are fundamentally prediction machines, 297 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:27,240 constantly trying to minimize surprise and uncertainty, 298 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:30,560 that really shapes everything from how we see and act 299 00:10:30,560 --> 00:10:34,320 in the world to our beliefs and even our sense of self. 300 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:38,040 It has huge implications for how we understand ourselves. 301 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,280 Doesn't that mean that we're trapped in this world that's 302 00:10:40,280 --> 00:10:42,840 just defined by our own predictions? 303 00:10:42,840 --> 00:10:45,440 I mean, are our models just set in stone? 304 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:45,960 Not at all. 305 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:48,920 The free energy principle doesn't say that our models are fixed. 306 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:52,200 They're constantly being refined, updated, and even 307 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:54,280 challenged by new experiences. 308 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,760 And that ability to question our own predictions, 309 00:10:57,760 --> 00:11:01,880 to embrace the unexpected, and to update our models based 310 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,520 on new evidence, that's what allows us to grow and evolve 311 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,000 and navigate this complex world. 312 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:08,960 That makes sense. 313 00:11:08,960 --> 00:11:10,680 If our models were completely fixed, 314 00:11:10,680 --> 00:11:13,960 we wouldn't be able to learn or adapt to new situations. 315 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:15,360 Our brains need to be flexible. 316 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:16,200 Absolutely. 317 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:20,080 That flexibility is essential for learning and adaptation. 318 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:22,520 So you mentioned earlier that the free energy principle 319 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:24,800 has connections to machine learning. 320 00:11:24,800 --> 00:11:25,440 Yeah. 321 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:26,480 That sounds fascinating. 322 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,440 Can you tell me a little more about that? 323 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:30,400 That's an area where things are getting really, really 324 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:31,560 interesting. 325 00:11:31,560 --> 00:11:34,680 The free energy principle is inspiring a whole new wave 326 00:11:34,680 --> 00:11:36,920 of research in AI. 327 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:39,520 It's leading to the development of AI systems 328 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:43,520 that our brains can learn to predict, to generate, 329 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:45,120 and even to imagine. 330 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,520 So we're talking about AI that can not only process data, 331 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:51,360 but actually understand it and interact with the world 332 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:54,080 in a more meaningful way. 333 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:55,280 That's the goal. 334 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:58,240 We might be able to create AI systems that are not only 335 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:02,440 intelligent, but also adaptable, creative, and perhaps even 336 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:05,280 capable of experiencing consciousness, 337 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:07,840 all by drawing inspiration from those principles that govern 338 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:09,240 our own minds. 339 00:12:09,240 --> 00:12:12,640 That's both incredibly exciting and a little bit frightening. 340 00:12:12,640 --> 00:12:15,800 I'm not sure I'm ready for conscious AI just yet. 341 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:18,320 But it definitely sounds like a topic for another deep dive. 342 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:19,240 Absolutely. 343 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:22,000 OK, so we've been talking a lot about the theoretical side 344 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:23,560 of the free energy principle. 345 00:12:23,560 --> 00:12:24,560 Right. 346 00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:28,400 But what does this all mean for us in practical terms? 347 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,760 How can we use this knowledge in our everyday lives? 348 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:35,080 That's where the real power of this theory lies, I think. 349 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:37,000 It invites us to become more aware 350 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,240 of our own internal models and how they shape our perceptions 351 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:42,680 and our decisions. 352 00:12:42,680 --> 00:12:45,800 It's not about becoming slaves to our predictions, 353 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:47,760 but about understanding them. 354 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:51,240 Questioning them, and even challenging them when necessary. 355 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:53,520 So it's about being more mindful of our own biases 356 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:54,360 and assumptions. 357 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:54,880 Yes. 358 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,840 Recognizing how our past experiences 359 00:12:57,840 --> 00:13:00,520 might be influencing how we're interpreting the present. 360 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:01,280 Exactly. 361 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:03,400 Imagine being more conscious of those biases 362 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:06,240 that creep into your thinking and recognizing 363 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:09,560 how your past experiences might be coloring 364 00:13:09,560 --> 00:13:11,600 your interpretation of the present. 365 00:13:11,600 --> 00:13:13,600 It's like being able to step back and observe 366 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:17,160 our own thought processes to see the code running 367 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:19,280 in the background that's shaving our reality. 368 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:19,880 I like that. 369 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:20,560 Yeah. 370 00:13:20,560 --> 00:13:25,000 And with that awareness comes the potential for change. 371 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,480 We can actively seek out new experiences, 372 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:30,560 challenge our preconceived notions, 373 00:13:30,560 --> 00:13:33,320 and expand the boundaries of our internal models. 374 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,200 So instead of just minimizing free energy, 375 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,080 we can actively seek out a little bit of good energy. 376 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:39,720 I love that. 377 00:13:39,720 --> 00:13:42,720 The kind of energy that comes from learning, growing, 378 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:44,760 and pushing the limits of our understanding. 379 00:13:44,760 --> 00:13:46,160 That's a great way to think about it. 380 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:48,520 It's about embracing the unexpected, 381 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:51,040 welcoming the challenge of updating our models, 382 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,240 and realizing that the journey of understanding 383 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:55,280 is an ongoing process. 384 00:13:55,280 --> 00:13:57,040 As we've been talking, I keep thinking back 385 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:58,200 to that mask illusion. 386 00:13:58,200 --> 00:13:59,000 Yeah. 387 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,760 It's a powerful reminder that our perceptions aren't always 388 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:05,000 an accurate reflection of reality. 389 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:08,600 They're shaped by this inner play of sensory input 390 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:10,600 and those preexisting beliefs. 391 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:13,080 It is a very powerful example. 392 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,400 It highlights how our brains use prior information 393 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:19,080 to make sense of the world, even when it 394 00:14:19,080 --> 00:14:22,520 leads to a slightly distorted view of reality. 395 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:25,440 So if our perceptions can be so easily influenced 396 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:29,000 by our priors, does that mean we can never truly 397 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,080 trust our senses? 398 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:34,880 Are we forever stuck in a world of our own making? 399 00:14:34,880 --> 00:14:37,800 I'm starting to feel a bit like I'm living in the matrix. 400 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:39,520 Well, that's a common concern. 401 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:40,920 But it's not quite that bleak. 402 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:41,280 OK. 403 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:44,560 Remember, our models are constantly being refined. 404 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,480 We can learn to recognize our own biases, 405 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:49,880 be more critical of our interpretations, 406 00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:51,640 and seek diverse perspectives that 407 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:53,120 challenge our assumptions. 408 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:55,320 So it's about becoming more discerning observers 409 00:14:55,320 --> 00:14:58,080 of our own reality, recognizing that there's always 410 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:00,160 more to learn, more to explore, and more ways 411 00:15:00,160 --> 00:15:02,000 to refine our understanding. 412 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:04,880 It's like a lifelong quest to improve our mental models. 413 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:05,360 Yeah. 414 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,000 It's like a lifelong quest to improve our mental models. 415 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:09,720 It sounds like you're saying that by understanding 416 00:15:09,720 --> 00:15:12,600 those principles that actually govern our own minds, 417 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,360 we can unlock new levels of creativity and empathy, 418 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:18,520 maybe even wisdom. 419 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:21,680 I think that's a beautiful way to put it. 420 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:23,120 The free energy principle helps us 421 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:27,120 see that we're not just these passive receivers of information. 422 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:30,600 We are active participants in shaping our own reality. 423 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:32,280 It's a bit like we're all artists, 424 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:34,520 constantly painting our own picture of the world. 425 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:37,040 And the more that we understand about the tools and techniques 426 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:38,840 that we're using, the more masterful 427 00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:40,600 those creations can become. 428 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:42,440 This has been such an eye-opening conversation. 429 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:44,440 I feel like I've gained a whole new perspective 430 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,640 on how my brain works. 431 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:47,560 I'm glad to hear that. 432 00:15:47,560 --> 00:15:50,840 That's the beauty of exploring these ideas, right? 433 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:52,880 It challenges us to think differently about ourselves 434 00:15:52,880 --> 00:15:54,560 and the world around us. 435 00:15:54,560 --> 00:15:57,040 So as we wrap up our deep dive into the free energy 436 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:00,200 principle, what's like the one key takeaway you 437 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:02,200 hope our listeners will remember? 438 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:04,640 I think the most important thing to remember 439 00:16:04,640 --> 00:16:07,920 is that our brains are incredible prediction machines. 440 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,920 They're constantly working to make sense of the world. 441 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:14,000 But those predictions aren't always perfect. 442 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,120 They're based on our past experiences, our beliefs, 443 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:18,720 and sometimes even our biases. 444 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:20,440 So it's not about rejecting our predictions, 445 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:23,720 but about recognizing that they're just that, predictions, 446 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:25,600 not necessarily the absolute truth. 447 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:26,360 Exactly. 448 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:29,400 We can learn to question our assumptions, 449 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:33,760 to seek out new information, and be open to updating our models. 450 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:35,240 That's how we grow and evolve. 451 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:38,760 This whole conversation has made me realize just how much power 452 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:41,440 we actually have in shaping our own reality. 453 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:42,360 We do. 454 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:44,920 And the more we understand about those principles that 455 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,160 are governing our minds, the more effectively 456 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:49,160 we can actually wield that power. 457 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:51,120 Well, on that empowering note, I think 458 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,720 it's time for us to resurface from this deep dive 459 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,680 into the fascinating world of the free energy principle. 460 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,160 It's been a pleasure exploring these ideas with you. 461 00:16:59,160 --> 00:17:00,760 To all our listeners out there, thank you 462 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:02,560 for joining us on this journey. 463 00:17:02,560 --> 00:17:04,440 Remember to keep those brains budding. 464 00:17:04,440 --> 00:17:06,920 Keep questioning, and keep exploring the world 465 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,320 with curiosity and an open mind. 466 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:34,680 Until next time, happy predicting.