In physics, energy is that which is causally invariant or symmetric with respect to time. Said differently, energy is never created or destroyed, it is conserved in the universe.

Now there is a question about information. Is information causally invariant? Does information remain the same with respect to time? To understand this, let's first understand what energy is, then attempt to understand what information is.
The strange thing about energy is that it is this universal currency that seems to be interchangeable between the different forces in nature (i.e. electromagnetic, strong, weak and gravity). It is that thing that makes change possible.
Now let's assume that the universe is computational in nature. That is, anything we see in nature is a consequence of computation. That is, there is computation underneath the physics that is driving the universe to change.
What does it mean then that information is conserved in this computational universe? Also, how is energy conservation related to information conservation?
Information conservation implies that it is that thing that does not change in time. That there is this bit that can't be changed. This is different from energy in that it is not an agent of change. Energy can be transformed, it's just the overall quantity remains the same.
Energy is what we would call a value and not something with an identity. When we speak however of information, that is of a bit, do we also imply an identity? That one bit over here is different from another bit elsewhere?
Are we speaking of the difference between a fermion (that has identity) and a boson (one that does not). A fermion is that elementary particle that is uniquely defined by its quantum features. The universe has a rule that fermions are unique (hence identity).
So when we speak about information, are we referring to uniqueness? If so, then information is different from energy. Energy is to bosons as information is to fermions.
How do fermions change their identity (i.e. change their quantum state)? Through energy that comes from the force carriers (i.e. bosons).
So to conclude, when you use the word conservation you imply a value, that is a quantity. When you speak of information, you imply a unique state.
That unique state is not time-invariant. It is incorrect to say that information is conserved. It's more apt to say that information is 'reconfigured'.
Now it takes exchange of energy to get to a specific quantum state. An atom can receive a photon or release a photon, this happens when its quantum state changes. There is no reconfiguration of information without an exchange of energy.
In a digital computer, we typically don't concern ourselves with the energy cost of transforming from one information state into another state. It is of course always present. Information in a computer always requires energy to change.
We also never care to use energy conservation rules to analyze the mechanisms of an algorithm. A computer is not a closed system. It draws energy from the wall that it is plugged into. (note: Wall is connected to the grid)
But here's the rub. A biological brain cares about energy conservation. A biological brain cares about where it's going to get its next meal. A biological brain isn't plugged into the wall that gets a steady influx of energy. (note: plants get it from the sun)
A biological brain cares about information about sources of energy. Information that is relevant for a brain is not the same as the information that is relevant to physics. Although both are related to energy.
A brain cares about information about energy. In physics, information is configured because of energy. These are just two different things. One is about energy and the other is the effect of energy. Let's not confuse the utterly obvious!
@threadreaderapp unroll

More from Carlos E. Perez

Nice to discover Judea Pearl ask a fundamental question. What's an 'inductive bias'?


I crucial step on the road towards AGI is a richer vocabulary for reasoning about inductive biases.

explores the apparent impedance mismatch between inductive biases and causal reasoning. But isn't the logical thinking required for good causal reasoning also not an inductive bias?

An inductive bias is what C.S. Peirce would call a habit. It is a habit of reasoning. Logical thinking is like a Platonic solid of the many kinds of heuristics that are discovered.

The kind of black and white logic that is found in digital computers is critical to the emergence of today's information economy. This of course is not the same logic that drives the general intelligence that lives in the same economy.

More from Society

Patriotism is an interesting concept in that it’s excepted to mean something positive to all of us and certainly seen as a morally marketable trait that can fit into any definition you want for it.+


Tolstoy, found it both stupid and immoral. It is stupid because every patriot holds his own country to be the best, which obviously negates all other countries.+

It is immoral because it enjoins us to promote our country’s interests at the expense of all other countries, employing any means, including war. It is thus at odds with the most basic rule of morality, which tells us not to do to others what we would not want them to do to us+

My sincere belief is that patriotism of a personal nature, which does not impede on personal and physical liberties of any other, is not only welcome but perhaps somewhat needed.

But isn’t adherence to a more humane code of life much better than nationalistic patriotism?+

Göring said, “people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.”+

You May Also Like

THE MEANING, SIGNIFICANCE AND HISTORY OF SWASTIK

The Swastik is a geometrical figure and an ancient religious icon. Swastik has been Sanatan Dharma’s symbol of auspiciousness – mangalya since time immemorial.


The name swastika comes from Sanskrit (Devanagari: स्वस्तिक, pronounced: swastik) &denotes “conducive to wellbeing or auspicious”.
The word Swastik has a definite etymological origin in Sanskrit. It is derived from the roots su – meaning “well or auspicious” & as meaning “being”.


"सु अस्ति येन तत स्वस्तिकं"
Swastik is de symbol through which everything auspicios occurs

Scholars believe word’s origin in Vedas,known as Swasti mantra;

"🕉स्वस्ति ना इन्द्रो वृधश्रवाहा
स्वस्ति ना पूषा विश्ववेदाहा
स्वस्तिनास्तरक्ष्यो अरिश्तनेमिही
स्वस्तिनो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु"


It translates to," O famed Indra, redeem us. O Pusha, the beholder of all knowledge, redeem us. Redeem us O Garudji, of limitless speed and O Bruhaspati, redeem us".

SWASTIK’s COSMIC ORIGIN

The Swastika represents the living creation in the whole Cosmos.


Hindu astronomers divide the ecliptic circle of cosmos in 27 divisions called
https://t.co/sLeuV1R2eQ this manner a cross forms in 4 directions in the celestial sky. At centre of this cross is Dhruva(Polestar). In a line from Dhruva, the stars known as Saptarishi can be observed.
Recently, the @CNIL issued a decision regarding the GDPR compliance of an unknown French adtech company named "Vectaury". It may seem like small fry, but the decision has potential wide-ranging impacts for Google, the IAB framework, and today's adtech. It's thread time! 👇

It's all in French, but if you're up for it you can read:
• Their blog post (lacks the most interesting details):
https://t.co/PHkDcOT1hy
• Their high-level legal decision: https://t.co/hwpiEvjodt
• The full notification: https://t.co/QQB7rfynha

I've read it so you needn't!

Vectaury was collecting geolocation data in order to create profiles (eg. people who often go to this or that type of shop) so as to power ad targeting. They operate through embedded SDKs and ad bidding, making them invisible to users.

The @CNIL notes that profiling based off of geolocation presents particular risks since it reveals people's movements and habits. As risky, the processing requires consent — this will be the heart of their assessment.

Interesting point: they justify the decision in part because of how many people COULD be targeted in this way (rather than how many have — though they note that too). Because it's on a phone, and many have phones, it is considered large-scale processing no matter what.