Background to the IDA Model

1. Background to the IDA Model Stan Franklin and the ‘Conscious’ Software Research Group Machine Consciousness Workshop, Torino, Fall 2003

2. I A D Internet IDA: an Intelligent Distribution Agent Dialogue with sailors Read personnel data Check job requisition lists Enforce Navy policies Choose jobs to offer members Negotiate with them about jobs Telephone Detailer Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

3. Autonomous Agent GW Theory Conceptual Model Computational Model IDA: a ‘conscious’ software agent IDA Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

4. Global Workspace Theory • A psychological theory of consciousness • The nervous system is a distributed parallel system with many different specialized processors • Global workspace contains a coalition of processors • Broadcasts globally to all other processors • Recruit other processors needed for any degree of novel or problematic situation • Explains limited capacity and seriality Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

5. Contexts at work Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

6. Why a ‘Conscious’ Agent? • Flesh out the theory with detailed architecture and mechanisms • Hypotheses for cognitive scientists and neuroscientists • Produce flexible, adaptive, human-like software • Want smart agents? Model them after humans. Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

7. Modules and Mechanisms • Perception—Copycat Architecture—Hofstadter • Action Selection—Behavior Net—Maes • Episodic Memory—Sparse Distributed Memory—Kanerva • Emotions—Pandemonium Theory—Jackson • Metacognition—Fuzzy Classifier Systems—Holland • Learning—Copycat Architecture, Reinforcement • Constraint Satisfaction—Linear Functional • Language Generation—Pandemonium Theory • Deliberation—Pandemonium Theory • ‘Consciousness’ —Pandemonium Theory Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

8. IDA’s Architecture Metacognition Database Perception Constraint Satisfaction Deliberation Negotiation Problem Solving Behavior Net Expectation & Automization ‘Consciousness’ Perception Working Memory Episodic Memory Emotions Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

9. A continuing iteration of a cognitive cycle of activities involving: Perception Working memory Transient episodic memory Long-term declarative memory ‘Consciousness’ Action selection Motor activity Processing in IDA Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

11. Cognitive Cycle Processing • Hypothesis— Like IDA’s, human cognitive processing is via a continuing sequence of Cognitive Cycles • Duration— Each cognitive cycle takes roughly 200 ms with steps 1 through 5 occupying about 80 ms • Overlapping— Several cycles may have parts running simultaneously in parallel • Seriality— Consciousness maintains serial order and the illusion of continuity • Start— Cycle may start with action selection instead of perception Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

12. Levels of abstraction • High level • behaviors • message type nodes • emotions • metacognitive actions • etc. • Low level • codelets Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

13. Codelets • Small pieces of code each performing a simple, specialized task • Many acts as demons, watching for a chance to act • Most subserve some high level entity, e.g. • behavior • slipnet node • metacognitive action • Some codelets work on their own, e.g. • watching for incoming mail • checking for time and place conflicts • Codelets do almost all the work • IDA is a multi-agent system Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

14. Norfolk nor NRFK norfolk Norfolk . . . San Diego Jacksonville Miami location information request preference acceptance Perception via a Slipnet Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

15. Coalitions and Consciousness • Coalition manager • Spotlight manager • Broadcast mechanism Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

16. Drive to Acknowledge A Behavior Stream Activation from drive Send an acknowledgement Compose an acknowledgment Find an email address Find and move a template From the Sidelines Activation from the environment, external or internal Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

17. Broadcast Behavior net templates Behavior Net in Action Behavior net Working Memory Stands Side lines Playing field Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

18. Associative Memory Working memory Job List Outgoing Message Playing Field Stands ‘Consciousness’ in Action Focus Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

19. Deliberation • Faced with a goal or problem • Imagine possible plans or solutions • Scenarios • Routes • Internal virtual reality—Dawkins • Evaluate them • Using reason • Using emotions • Choose among them Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

20. Associative Memory Working memory Detach Date Job List Leave Time Playing Field Detach Date Leave Time Stands Leave Time Detach Date Deliberation in Action Focus Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

21. Ideomotor Theory William James (circa 1890) ----- Bernard Baars (1988) Voluntary vs non-voluntary action Theory of voluntary action • Proposers—propose a course of action • Objectors—raise objections to such a course of action • Supporters—lend support to such a course of action • Auctioneer—wields the gavel Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

22. Ideomotor Theory in Action Idea pops to mind (proposer)—no objection (objector)—do it Objection (objector)—don’t do it Objection then support (supporter)—do it Different proposal—no objection—do it Different proposal—original proposal— no objection—do it Last unopposed proposal is acted upon Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino

23. Web and Email Addresses • Stan Franklin • franklin@memphis.edu • www.cs.memphis.edu/~franklin • ‘Conscious’ Software Research Group • www.cs.memphis.edu/~csrg Stan Franklin—Machine Consciousness—Torino