The SP Theory of Intelligence, and Its Realisation in the SP Computer Model, as a Foundation for the Development of Artificial General Intelligence

Abstract

The theme of this paper is that the SP Theory of Intelligence (SPTI), and its realisation in the SP Computer Model, is a promising foundation for the development of artificial intelligence at the level of people or higher, also known as ‘artificial general intelligence’ (AGI). The SPTI, and alternatives to the SPTI, are considered and compared as potential foundations for the development of AGI. The alternatives include ‘Gato’ from DeepMind, ‘DALL·E 2’ from OpenAI, ‘Soar’ from Allen Newell, John Laird, and others, and ACT-R from John Anderson, Christian Lebiere, and others. A key principle in the SPTI and its development is the importance of information compression in human learning, perception, and cognition. Since there are many uncertainties between where we are now and, far into the future, anything that might qualify as an AGI, a multi-pronged attack on the problem is needed. The SPTI qualifies as the basis for one of those prongs. Although it will take time to achieve AGI, there is potential along the road for many useful benefits and applications of the research.