When does a physical system compute? (2013) (arxiv.org)

A recent paper titled "When does a physical system compute?" presents a formal framework to clarify when a physical system can be regarded as performing a computation. This work addresses the increasing interest in non-standard computing systems, such as quantum and biological computers, which blur the boundaries of traditional computing definitions. The authors argue that without a clear criterion, there is potential confusion about what constitutes computation, suggesting that every physical event could be mistakenly viewed as computational. Significantly, this framework delineates the relationship between abstract computational levels and physical device levels, akin to how mathematical models represent physical phenomena in experimental science. By defining essential conditions for computation and introducing the concept of a 'computational entity,' the research provides a more precise understanding of how physical systems can predict outcomes of abstract processes. This advancement is crucial for the AI/ML community as it lays a foundational understanding of new computing paradigms, informing the development of future technologies that leverage complex physical systems for computation.