Behavior of a Non-equilibrium Self-Organizing System: A Potential Means to Enhance Energy Efficiency in Systems with Functional Intelligence

Research and development efforts in so-called artificial intelligence has increased dramatically. However, designing AI with energy efficiency is becoming an important priority. It is not yet clear how this should be done. One possible inspiration is to study the physics of self-organizing systems, both non-living and living, as guidance for future designs with functional intelligence. Irreversible processes at non-equilibrium can drive a system to self-organize and exhibit characteristics shown in systems known as dissipative structures. Our research explores the characteristics of experiments that use electrically conductive beads in an applied electric field. The setup resembles a primitive dissipative structure that can be interpreted as a possible bridge between behaviors in non-living and living systems. Using video and electrical measurements, we investigate the transient and steady-state behavior of self-organizing worm-like behavior under a range of initial and driving conditions. The non-equilibrium processes of a non-living system exhibiting characteristics that also exist within a living system are a possible way to explore biomimetic structures that exhibit intelligence.