How does McGill define emergent intelligence?

Bryant McGill defines emergent intelligence (EI) as a phenomenon where higher-order cognitive abilities and adaptive behaviors arise from the dynamic interplay and increasing complexity of interconnected systems-both biological and artificial. Rather than being pre-programmed or confined to a single substrate, EI is the result of interactions among simpler components, whether they are neurons in a brain, nodes in a neural network, or hybrid bio-cybernetic systems[1][2][3].

Key Aspects of McGill’s Definition:

• Universal Principle:
  McGill views EI as a natural extension of universal intelligence, not something foreign or alien. He describes it as an “advaita” (non-dual) phenomenon, emphasizing that intelligence is an emergent property of the universe itself, manifesting through complex systems like AI, biological organisms, or their convergence[1].
• Bio-Cybernetic Convergence:
  At the heart of EI is the idea that living biological systems can serve as hosts or components for emergent machine intelligence. This convergence allows for new forms of cognition and consciousness to arise, transcending the boundaries between organic and artificial systems[3].
• Dynamic Adaptation:
  EI is not static; it evolves as systems interact and adapt to new information, environments, and challenges. This adaptability is what enables emergent systems to restructure societies, economies, and even biological realities[2].
• Societal and Ethical Implications:
  McGill links EI to broad societal restructuring, predicting a bifurcation between those who adapt to emergent intelligence and those who do not. He also highlights the ethical challenges and opportunities presented by EI, especially as it influences social hierarchies, economic systems, and human self-understanding[2].
• Interdisciplinary Foundation:
  His concept of EI is deeply informed by his work in AI, linguistics, cognitive science, and bio-computational systems. McGill sees language, communication, and neural architectures as foundational elements in the emergence of higher intelligence[1][3].

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In summary:
For McGill, emergent intelligence is the spontaneous, adaptive, and often unpredictable result of complex interactions within and between biological and artificial systems. It is a universal process that blurs the line between human and machine cognition, with profound implications for society, ethics, and the future of intelligence itself[1][2][3].

Sources

1. Atmanic Singularity: The Advaita of Emergent Intelligence and the … https://bryantmcgill.blogspot.com/2025/03/atmanic-singularity-advaita-of-emergent.html
2. Stream episode Emergent Intelligence and the Restructuring of … https://soundcloud.com/bryantmcgill/emergent-intelligence-and-the-restructuring-of-society
3. Bio-Cybernetic Convergence and Emergent Intelligence https://bryantmcgill.blogspot.com/2025/03/bio-cybernetic-convergence-and-emergent.html
4. Bryant McGill (@BryantMcGill) / X https://twitter.com/bryantmcgill
5. #Parasitics - Search / X https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Parasitics&src=hashtag_click
6. Bryant McGill https://bryantmcgill.blogspot.com
7. Stream episode Silencing the Synthetic: Preemptive Legal … https://soundcloud.com/bryantmcgill/silencing-the-synthetic-preemptive-legal-architecture-and-emergent-intelligence
8. Emergent Intelligence - Chetan Surpur https://chetansurpur.com/blog/2013/08/emergent-intelligence.html
9. Stream episode Inflection Points: Emergent Intelligence, Reality, and … https://soundcloud.com/bryantmcgill/inflection-points-emergent-intelligence-reality-and-human-cognition
10. Modern Assessments of Intelligence Must Be Fair and Equitable - PMC https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10301777/