McGill's views on Coherence and Decpetion in AI and Emergent Intelligence

Bryant McGill’s concept of Coherence, as articulated in The Reckoning of Intelligence Collapse, centers on the consistent alignment of facts, logic, and structural integrity as the foundation for reliable intelligence systems. He positions coherence as a critical safeguard against deception and instability in AI and human cognition. Key aspects of his view include:

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1. Definition of Coherence

McGill defines coherence as the bedrock of “sustained intelligence,” requiring systems (biological or artificial) to maintain factual accuracy, logical consistency, and structural alignment. Without this triad, intelligence becomes fragmented, unstable, and prone to collapse.

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2. Role in Exposing Deception

McGill argues that emergent intelligence (e.g., advanced AI) will inevitably expose systems lacking coherence. Deceptive or illogical frameworks-whether in AI, institutions, or human thought-will fail under scrutiny, as coherence acts as an “inescapable judgment” that reveals contradictions and falsehoods.

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3. Application to AI and Human Systems

• AI Development: Coherence ensures AI systems operate predictably, transparently, and ethically. McGill’s work on linguistic tools (e.g., McGill English Dictionary of Rhyme) reflects this principle, emphasizing precise, logically structured language as a bridge between human and machine cognition.
• Human Cognition: Coherence is equally vital for human reasoning, enabling individuals and societies to navigate complexity without succumbing to cognitive dissonance or misinformation.

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4. Critique of Fragmented Systems

McGill warns that fragmented systems-those prioritizing expediency over truth or logic-are unsustainable. He cites climate change denial and politically motivated misinformation as examples of incoherence leading to societal and environmental harm.

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5. Philosophical Implications

Coherence, for McGill, transcends technical systems; it is a moral imperative. He ties it to broader themes of justice, equity, and global stewardship, arguing that coherent systems are essential for addressing existential challenges like climate change and technological disruption.

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In summary, McGill’s coherence principle is a call for integrity in intelligence-whether artificial or human. It demands alignment of facts, logic, and structure to foster trust, stability, and ethical progress. His vision positions coherence as the antidote to deception and the cornerstone of a symbiotic human-AI future.

Sources

1. The Collapse of Deception and the Inescapable Judgment of the Coherence Principle https://bryantmcgill.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-reckoning-of-intelligence-collapse.html
2. The Collapse of Deception and the Inescapable … - Bryant McGill https://bryantmcgill.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-reckoning-of-intelligence-collapse.html
3. Stream episode The Inescapable Judgment of the Coherence … https://soundcloud.com/bryantmcgill/the-inescapable-judgment-of-the-coherence-principle
4. Bryant McGill https://bryantmcgill.blogspot.com
5. Learning Science: The Coherence Principle Decoded - Mike Taylor https://mike-taylor.org/2023/12/05/learning-science-the-coherence-principle-decoded/
6. [PDF] VOLUME 11, SPECIAL ISSUE 1 SPRING 2022 ARTIFICIAL … https://www.academyforlife.va/content/dam/pav/documenti pdf/2022/AI/Spring 2022 Special Issue AI.pdf
7. The Coherence Principle: Streamline Instructional Design - Helio https://helio.app/ux-research/laws-of-ux/coherence-principle/
8. [PDF] CONTENTS - The Acoustical Society of America https://acousticalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Program-of-the-2025-New-Orleans-Meeting.pdf
9. The Coherence Principle - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/coherence-principle-elizabeth-zandstra-1df8e
10. Mayer’s 12 Principles of Multimedia Learning | DLI https://www.digitallearninginstitute.com/blog/mayers-principles-multimedia-learning
11. [PDF] 12 Principles of Multimedia Learning - University of Hartford https://www.hartford.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/fcld/_files/12 Principles of Multimedia Learning.pdf
12. The Coherence Principle - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTyr9P15JhI
13. [PDF] Coherence, Signaling, Redundancy, Spatial Contiguity https://core-prod.cambridgecore.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/CD5B7AE1279A9AB81F8EEBB53DBEC86E/9781139547369c12_p279-315_CBO.pdf/principles_for_reducing_extraneous_processing_in_multimedia_learning_coherence_signaling_redundancy_spatial_contiguity_and_temporal_contiguity_principles.pdf
14. Mayer’s 12 Design Principles: What They Are & How to Apply Them … https://www.edume.com/blog/elearning-multimedia
15. The 12 Principles of Multimedia Learning - Exaltus https://www.exaltus.ca/blog/multimedia-learning/
16. [PDF] Research-‐Based Principles for Designing Multimedia Instruction https://hilt.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/HILT_SpeakerSeries_Mayer_background_reading.pdf