Neural Self-Replication
Reference
- Gabor, T., Illium, S., Mattausch, A., Belzner, L., and Linnhoff-Popien, C. 2019. Self-Replication in Neural Networks. .
Drawing inspiration from the fundamental process of self-replication in biological systems, this research explores the potential for implementing analogous mechanisms within neural networks. The objective is to develop computational models capable of autonomously reproducing their own structure (specifically, their connection weights), potentially leading to the emergence of complex, adaptive behaviors.
The study investigates various neural network architectures and learning paradigms suitable for achieving self-replication. A key finding highlights the efficacy of leveraging backpropagation-like mechanisms, not for a typical supervised task, but for navigating the weight space in a manner conducive to replication. This approach facilitates the development of non-trivial self-replicating networks.
Furthermore, the research extends this concept by proposing an “artificial chemistry” environment. This framework involves populations of interacting neural networks, where self-replication dynamics can lead to emergent properties and complex ecosystem behaviors. This work offers a novel computational perspective on self-replication, providing tools and insights for exploring artificial life and the principles of self-organization in computational systems. For a detailed discussion, please refer to the publication by [Gabor et al. 2019].
