On Computational Mechanisms for Shared Intentionality, and Speculation on Rationality and Consciousness

TL;DR

This paper explores the computational mechanisms enabling shared intentionality in AI and humans, proposing a theory that links these mechanisms to rationality and consciousness from a computer science perspective.

Contribution

It derives necessary mechanisms for shared intentionality in AI using Marr's information processing model and extends these ideas to human cognition, proposing the SIFT theory.

Findings

Derived mechanisms for shared intentionality in AI.

Extended mechanisms to explain human rationality.

Proposed the SIFT theory linking shared intentionality to consciousness.

Abstract

A singular attribute of humankind is our ability to undertake novel, cooperative behavior, or teamwork. This requires that we can communicate goals, plans, and ideas between the brains of individuals to create shared intentionality. Using the information processing model of David Marr, I derive necessary characteristics of basic mechanisms to enable shared intentionality between prelinguistic computational agents and indicate how these could be implemented in present-day AI-based robots. More speculatively, I suggest the mechanisms derived by this thought experiment apply to humans and extend to provide explanations for human rationality and aspects of intentional and phenomenal consciousness that accord with observation. This yields what I call the Shared Intentionality First Theory (SIFT) for rationality and consciousness. The significance of shared intentionality has been recognized and advocated previously, but typically from a sociological or behavioral point of view. SIFT complements prior work by applying a computer science perspective to the underlying mechanisms.