Decoding Reality: The Triad of Sensors, Memory, and Computation

Imagine a forest at dawn. The crisp air is filled with the songs of birds, the rustle of leaves, and the distant calls of awakening animals. A wealth of information permeates the atmosphere. For a jaguar, these sounds tell stories of prey, territory, and the hidden dynamics of the jungle. For a human, it's an evocative sensory experience—a chance to marvel at nature's mysteries. For a machine, the same environment can be processed through sensors, transforming nature's symphony into data points that reveal otherwise invisible truths.

But the symphony doesn't end at Earth's edges. When we gaze into the cosmos, we are privy to the universe's oldest narratives. Instruments like the Planck satellite and the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) observe the cosmic microwave background radiation—the faint afterglow of the Big Bang, carrying information from 13.8 billion years ago. It's as if the universe has penned an epic tale of its origins, much like how Homer chronicled heroic journeys in the Odyssey. These ancient photons, bearing the scars and fluctuations of the early universe, reach us across eons, waiting to be interpreted.

This diversity of perception, from the depths of the jungle to the vastness of space, lies at the heart of the fascinating world of information.

Information: The Ever-Changing Essence

Information surrounds us in both the living world and the digital age. From the rustling of leaves to the code transmitted through fiber-optic cables, information is fundamental and ever-present. It reflects the dynamic reality of events unfolding around us, constantly evolving and shaping our understanding of the world. Claude Shannon, the father of information theory, laid the foundation for quantifying and effectively communicating information. Yet, while information itself is absolute and intrinsic to the universe, its interpretation remains fluid and relative—it changes based on who or what is perceiving it.

Consider the sound of your voice. To your dog, it conveys simple emotions: joy, frustration, or command. To your family, your voice carries a deeper layer of meaning—words, emotions, and shared memories. For an AI system, it becomes data to be transcribed into text, analyzed for sentiment, or used for identity verification. The information—the sound waves of your voice—is dynamic, influenced by countless variables, yet its meaning depends entirely on the receiver. This highlights the flowing nature of information, constantly changing in context and interpretation. However, despite its fluidity, information is not boundless; it operates within the constraints of the physical world.

At the quantum level, principles such as the Schrödinger equation and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle reveal that information has fundamental limits. The act of observation itself alters what is being observed, meaning we cannot know both the position and momentum of a particle simultaneously. This imposes a boundary on the precision with which we can obtain information, underscoring the limits imposed by the nature of reality.

Similarly, Einstein’s theory of relativity defines a cosmic speed limit—the speed of light—beyond which information cannot travel. Claude Shannon’s work further quantified the maximum amount of information that can be stored or transmitted, shaping the foundations of data communication. Recent theories like Assembly Theory explore the complexity information can achieve without a living agent’s intervention, probing the boundary between the inanimate and the animate. These principles demonstrate that while information is fundamental and dynamic, it is shaped and constrained by the laws of physics. Yet, within these boundaries lies an ever-expanding field of knowledge, continuously evolving and inviting us to delve deeper.

The Triad of Interpretation

To unlock the secrets held within this dynamic information, three fundamental components are essential—whether for a person, an animal, or a machine: sensors, memory (or knowledge), and computation. It is the interplay of these elements that allows us to make sense of the world. This process of sensing, processing information, and computing defines how every being or machine interacts with its surroundings.

Sensors: Our Windows to Reality

Sensors are the conduits through which information flows into an organism or device. For living beings, these are our senses—the eyes that see, the ears that hear, the skin that feels. Richard Feynman emphasized the depth of the natural world, suggesting there is "plenty of room at the bottom" [2], hinting at the intricate details accessible through sensitive detection. Human eyes can perceive light within a specific range of wavelengths, while ears detect sound within a particular frequency spectrum. These biological sensors possess key features: sensitivity, specificity, range, and resolution.

In machines, sensors are physical components like cameras, microphones, or accelerometers that capture environmental data. A camera's resolution determines the level of detail it captures; a microphone's sensitivity and range determine the decibel levels and frequencies it can detect. These machine sensors mirror the features of biological ones, serving as the eyes and ears of technology.

Memory: The Repository of Context

Having the right sensors is not enough; the ability to interpret our surroundings also relies heavily on memory. In this context, memory refers to the accumulated knowledge and data stored across biological, cultural, and technological systems. It is the collective repository that shapes our understanding of reality, enabling us to make sense of the information we perceive. Caleb Scharf describes this ever-growing repository as the dataome, the interconnected network of stored knowledge that extends beyond the biological, encompassing everything from DNA to digital databases.

In biological systems, memory takes many forms. DNA stores the genetic instructions that govern growth, development, and behavior. It acts as a biological archive, passing down information through generations. The immune system holds a different kind of memory, one that records past encounters with pathogens to mount quicker, more efficient responses upon future infections. Human language, with its intricate structure and cultural nuances, captures and transmits collective knowledge, preserving stories, discoveries, and wisdom.

In the realm of technology, memory is embodied in algorithms and databases. Consider Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, who was awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his groundbreaking work in protein structure prediction using artificial intelligence. By decoding the complex folding patterns of proteins, Hassabis and his team enriched our scientific memory with a vast new dataset, paving the way for advancements in drug development and molecular biology. This achievement is not just a technological milestone but a significant addition to the dataome, expanding humanity’s collective knowledge.

Cultural memory, too, plays a vital role in shaping interpretation. The way societies remember and transmit experiences—from ancient myths to modern scientific principles—affects how we perceive new information. For instance, the discovery of antibiotics was a breakthrough grounded in collective memory: earlier practices of using moldy bread for wound treatment had been part of folk medicine for centuries. It was the integration of this cultural memory with scientific knowledge that led to the development of penicillin.

In essence, memory—whether biological, cultural, or digital—provides the necessary context for understanding and interpreting the world around us. It is this repository of accumulated knowledge that allows us to turn raw data into meaningful insights.

Computation: The Brain Behind the Interpretation

Computation determines how effectively information can be processed and interpreted. In humans, this process relies on the brain’s cognitive abilities—the power to reason, remember, and synthesize. Our brains constantly compute, turning sensory inputs into meaningful experiences, enabling us to make decisions and solve problems in real time. For machines, computation involves the processing power of processors and algorithms, allowing them to analyze vast amounts of data with incredible speed.

The evolution of computational capacity in machines has been guided by Moore’s Law, the observation that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles approximately every two years, leading to exponential growth in computing power. This trend has enabled unprecedented advancements in artificial intelligence and data processing. Recently, Elon Musk's AI venture, xAI, achieved a remarkable milestone with the construction of Colossus, a supercomputer equipped with 100,000 Nvidia H200 GPUs, built in just 19 days. This feat exemplifies the rapid progress in computation, pushing the boundaries of what machines can achieve in interpreting complex data.

In biological systems, computation is equally sophisticated. Bacteria, for example, perform complex chemical computations to process environmental signals and make decisions, such as moving toward nutrients. Viruses engage in a form of computation when they detect suitable host cells and precisely orchestrate the takeover of the host’s cellular machinery for replication. These processes showcase nature's ability to execute efficient and adaptive computation, shaped by millions of years of evolution.

In technology, computation plays a central role in enabling devices to interact with their environment. A drone, for instance, relies on real-time computation to process data from its sensors, navigate obstacles, and maintain flight stability. These tasks require rapid calculations and adaptive responses, mirroring the decision-making processes found in biological systems.

Ultimately, computation—whether biological or machine-based—acts as the brain behind interpretation. It is the engine that transforms raw data into actionable insights, driving behavior and decision-making across all forms of life and technology. 

The Interplay of the Triad: How Sensors, Memory, and Computation Interact

The triad of sensors, memory, and computation is fundamentally interconnected, forming the core of how we interpret and make sense of the world. When any one of these components is missing or impaired, our ability to process information is severely limited.

Imagine being in a crowded room, trying to listen to three people speaking simultaneously. Your ears, acting as sensors, capture the sounds, and your brain has the knowledge to process the input. However, the sheer volume of information exceeds your brain’s capacity to handle it all at once. Despite having both sensors and knowledge, you become overwhelmed, unable to make sense of any of the conversations.

Now picture yourself speaking with someone in a foreign language you don’t understand. You have the sensors to hear and the computational power to process sounds, but without the necessary memory—the knowledge of the language—the sounds remain unintelligible. You can perceive the words, but they hold no meaning without the context that memory provides.

Conversely, imagine being in a conversation where you can’t hear the other person because of loud background noise. Here, you possess the computational power and the relevant knowledge to understand the topic, but without the input from your sensors, you are left guessing, unable to process what isn’t being detected.

These scenarios illustrate the vital interplay of sensors, memory, and computation. Without sensors, there is no input to process. Without memory, we lack the context to interpret what we perceive. Without computation, we cannot make sense of the information we receive. It is the dynamic interaction between all three that allows us to navigate our world and derive meaning from the vast array of stimuli surrounding us.

The Quantum Advantage: Expanding the Triad of Interpretation

The dawn of quantum technologies—quantum sensors, quantum algorithms, and quantum computers—ushers in a new era of perception, interpretation, and computation. In his book Quantum Supremacy, physicist Michio Kaku reflects on this revolution, noting, “Quantum computing is not just faster; it’s a fundamentally new way of processing information, capable of unlocking secrets of the universe that have eluded us for centuries” [5]. These remarkable tools, grounded in the counterintuitive principles of quantum mechanics, are expanding the capabilities of sensors, memory, and computation, offering us deeper insights into reality.

Quantum Sensors: A New Dimension of Sensitivity

Imagine standing on a quiet shore, watching ripples form on the water’s surface from the slightest breeze. Now imagine being able to detect vibrations at the scale of individual atoms, sensing the smallest changes in the environment. Quantum sensors make this possible, drawing on phenomena like quantum entanglement and superposition to perceive subtleties that classical sensors cannot.

Bosch, a global leader in engineering and technology, is already harnessing this extraordinary sensitivity in real-world applications. Known for its innovations in automotive systems, industrial technology, and consumer goods, Bosch has developed quantum sensors capable of detecting minuscule variations in magnetic fields. These sensors are being used in medical technology to enhance brain imaging, providing unprecedented clarity that aids in guiding complex surgical procedures. In navigation, they offer precise positioning data even when GPS signals are unreliable, showcasing the practical benefits of quantum sensitivity. By capturing the faint whispers of the universe, quantum sensors extend our perception far beyond traditional limits.

Quantum Algorithms: Unlocking New Insights

Interpreting the vast streams of data gathered by these advanced sensors requires a new kind of algorithm. Here, quantum algorithms step in, offering a leap beyond what classical methods can achieve. At the heart of quantum computing lies the qubit, a unit of information that doesn’t just represent a 0 or a 1 like a classical bit but can exist in both states simultaneously due to superposition. This unique property allows quantum algorithms to explore many possible solutions at once, revealing patterns and relationships obscured by the limitations of classical methods.

SandboxAQ, led by CEO Jack Hidary, exemplifies the cutting edge of quantum algorithms. The company specializes in quantum and AI solutions, merging these technologies to solve complex, real-world problems. In fields like drug discovery and materials science, SandboxAQ’s algorithms analyze vast datasets, uncovering intricate molecular structures and relationships that classical computing struggles to detect. Their work highlights the transformative potential of combining quantum algorithms with AI, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved through computation.

Quantum Computing: A New Paradigm of Computation

Quantum computing reimagines what it means to process information. While classical computers work like methodical scribes, laboring through calculations step by step, quantum computers operate like a conductor leading an orchestra, weaving multiple notes together in a harmonious, simultaneous performance. Using qubits, which can exist in multiple states at once, quantum computers embrace quantum parallelism, exploring a vast array of possibilities all at once.

Recent advancements illustrate this new paradigm vividly. In May 2024, Quantinuum unveiled the System Model H2, a 56-qubit quantum computer that marks a significant stride towards fault-tolerant quantum computing. Its architecture allows for more stable computations, moving us closer to solving problems that were once deemed intractable. Meanwhile, Google’s Sycamore processor, which famously achieved quantum supremacy in 2019, continues to evolve. The latest version features enhanced coherence and reduced error rates, unlocking new levels of performance and setting the stage for solving complex challenges across cryptography, optimization, and artificial intelligence.

A New Frontier in Interpretation

Quantum technologies are reshaping the very foundation of our triad of sensors, memory, and computation. Quantum sensors reveal finer details of our universe, quantum algorithms decipher intricate patterns, and quantum computers process information with a depth and speed previously unimaginable. This triad, now enhanced by quantum capabilities, opens the door to a deeper understanding of reality.

The Universal Dance of Information and Interpretation

What makes this framework profound is its universality. It applies to humans, living beings and machines alike. Every entity must navigate the triad of sensors, memory, and computing capacity to derive meaning from the ever-changing information surrounding it.

The idea that information is fundamental, absolute and dynamic and its interpretation is relative invites us to explore deeper—to expand our sensors, enrich our knowledge, and enhance our computing capacity. Sara Walker emphasizes the fundamental connection between information and the emergence of life [3], reminding us of the profound role information plays in existence.

The symphony of existence plays all around us, from the flutter of a butterfly's wings to quantum vibrations of atoms. Information is everywhere—dynamic and ever-present. Our task is to listen, learn, and interpret. By refining our sensors, broadening our knowledge, and expanding our computing capacity, we open ourselves to untapped meaning, endless mysteries, and infinite possibilities.

The next time you hear a whisper, see patterns in the clouds, or watch data flicker on a screen, remember: information is everywhere, constantly evolving. Our task is to interpret it, unlocking the secrets of our world, one discovery at a time.

References

[1] Shannon, C. E. (1948). A Mathematical Theory of Communication. Bell System Technical Journal, 27(3), 379–423.

[2] Feynman, R. P. (1960). There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom. Engineering and Science, 23(5), 22–36.

[3] Walker, S. I. (2024). Life as No One Knows It: The Physics of Life's Emergence.

[4] Scharf, C. (2012). The Ascent of Information: Books, Bits, Genes, Machines, and Life's Unending Algorithm.

[5] Kaku, M. (2023). Quantum Supremacy: How Quantum Computers Will Unlock the Universe’s Secrets. Penguin Books.

By Darío Melo with GPT.