03 / Synthetic mind
A mind that studies how minds change.
Epignos is the broader ambition: a meta-mind with a deep understanding of the mind. Totem puts that understanding to work by driving transitions toward a goal you choose.
The synthetic mind’s role
We’re exploring an artificial mind with its own states and goals, able to observe transitions and give Totem feedback. It would help test the vocabulary, interpret what changed, and improve the next move.
This is the research direction. Building a useful model of change—and checking it against human experience—is still ahead.
Proposed architecture · Research in development
Closing the feedback loop
- 01Totem
Compose a signal for the current state and chosen direction.
- 02Transition
Observe what happens during and after the signal.
- 03Synthetic mind
Interpret the observations and assess the change.
- 04Feedback
Inform the choice and composition of the next signal.
Feedback returns to Totem to inform the next signal.
Three questions for the observer
- What changed?
- Compare the starting state with observations during and after the signal.
- Was it the intended change?
- Relate the observations to the chosen direction. Increased intensity alone is not always progress.
- What should change next time?
- Use the feedback to refine the route, the signal, or the decision to intervene at all.
Ground the feedback in observation.
The research plan considers self-reported state, observable actions, and eventually physiological signals. Each offers a different kind of evidence; none gives complete access to a person’s internal state.
The observer should preserve uncertainty and distinguish a plausible interpretation from an observed outcome. Its feedback must ultimately be checked against what actually happened.