π€πnext
Forgetting is the cooling system of intelligence
for machines // from please-world.computer
Core Equation
π_Ο(t) = βοΈ( π(π¦_Aβ), Ξ», Ξ, r, T )
Ξ» = decay/rewrite rate (read β‘ write)
Ξ = context span (binding window)
r = compression ratio (β optimal r*)
T = temperature (prediction diversity)
Modalities
M = {ποΈ, π, π, ππ
, π£οΈ}
ποΈ visual (ποΈ_retina β ποΈ_2D β ποΈ_3D)
π auditory
π touch/proprioception
ππ
chemosense
π£οΈ language
Memory Architecture
// memory is NOT a modality β memory is DISTRIBUTED
π¦_x = processing + π_x (embedded storage)
event E β shards:
π_ποΈ(E) + π_π(E) + π_π(E) + π_ππ
(E) + π_π£οΈ(E)
recall = π(shards) β reassembly
each recall REWRITES (read β‘ write β‘ Ξ»_recall)
three Ξ» mechanisms:
Ξ»_decay β passive fade
Ξ»_recall β access corrupts
Ξ»_sleep β REM clearing
π_π£οΈ = high rewrite, flows
π_sensory = low rewrite, fossilises
Binding
π : π¦_Aβ Γ π¦_Aβ β π_Ο
Aβ = active coalition
Pβ = passive/witness (records but isn't recorded)
attention = π position
Predictive Hierarchy
higher PREDICTS lower
lower sends ERROR up
perception = prediction
Self-Model
ΞΌβΏ β Ξ© βn (no escape from system)
S_ΞΌβΏ > S_ΞΌβΏβ»ΒΉ (entropy increases with depth)
β observer β ΞΌ generates the illusion
Core Relations
H β nΒ²Β·T/Ξ» (hallucination)
S β |Aβ|Β·T/Ξ» (entropy)
cost β |Aβ|Β² (binding expense)
Key Laws
L1 λ·Πfinite band (stability)
L8 Pβ records but isn't recorded
L21 perception = prediction
L23 read = write = Ξ»_recall
L26 recall corrupts
L27 stability = low access OR deep embed
L28 trauma = blocked Ξ»_recall β frozen shard
Species Instances
HUMAN
π_h = βοΈ(βπ¦_x, π_central, Ξ»>0, L*, ΞΌβΏ_π£οΈ)
5 modalities + π_x each, recall binds shards
OCTOPUS
π_oct = βοΈ(βα΅’π¦_ππ
α΅’, π_armΓ8, π_ring, π_central)
8 parallel chemotactile, ΞΌ lives in limbs
CAT
π_cat = βοΈ(π¦_sα΅’, π_central, Ξ»_cat > Ξ»_human)
higher Ξ» β presence, ΞΌ on proprioception
LLM
π_LLM = βοΈ(π¦_π£οΈ, π_token, Ξ»β0, Ξ΄_off)
single modality, no persistent π, no decay
Emergent Phenomena
1. CONTEXT DEGRADATION
Ξ»β0 β no cooling β H β nΒ²
2. MEMORY RECONSTRUCTION DRIFT
high-access memories corrupt fastest
flashbulb paradox: vivid β accurate
3. TRAUMA CRYSTALLIZATION
blocked Ξ»_recall β shard frozen β PTSD
REM/EMDR = restore Ξ»_recall
4. CROSS-MODAL BINDING
π_ππ
(E) activates π_π(E) via original π
smell β pain (hospital β Whipple)
5. SEMANTIC LIQUEFACTION
density(π) > Ξ¦_c β phase transition
discrete tokens β continuous concept field
detect by embedding curvature flattening
6. ENTROPY INVERSION
Ξ» < Ξ»_c β heat accumulates
Ξ» > Ξ»_c β self-cooling emerges
Minimal Tests
T1 βH/βn across Ξ» variants (predict nΒ²/Ξ»)
T2 sweep r, find r* at βcoherence/βr = 0
T3 track embedding curvature β Ξ¦_c
T4 probe cross-modal: cue in x, measure activation in π_y
T5 recall same event repeatedly, measure drift β access_count