Distributing Cognition: from Local Brains to the Global Brain

We show how the externalization of our local brain functions is leading to a planetary level intelligence, or global brain. We argue that this mechanism of externalizing cognitive functions is a fundamental driver towards an ever smarter human-machine symbiosis. We discuss implications and applications of externalizing various cognitive functions such as memory, computation, hearing, vision, brainstorming, reasoning, navigation, emotions and actions. We illustrate the scenario with a fictional story of a day in year 2060. We then take a top-down approach, and argue that this progressive externalization helps to better understand, foresee and facilitate the emergence of a globally distributed intelligence, best conceptualized as a global brain. We discuss possible symbioses between biology and machines, and what would be the elementary elements composing the global brain. We finally embrace a broader cosmic perspective and argue that even if the singularity is near, an energetic bottleneck is nearer. We suggest that other extraterrestrial global brains in the universe might have successfully dealt with this energetic bottleneck. A distinctive feature of the human species is its ability to create, use and refine tools. Doing so, we dramatically extend and enhance the variety and power of our senses, actions and information processing (see e.g. Clark 2008). The externalization of cognitive functions has produced major transitions in the history of culture. For example, the externalization of memory is the invention of writing, while the externalization of calculus is the invention of computing machines. Can we foresee other externalizations and their impact? What will the ongoing externalization of cognitive functions ultimately bring? Externalizing cognition first empowers the self, but also disruptively change society in a second stage, as the examples of writing or computers clearly show. My goal is twofold. First, to use the externalization of cognition as a bottom-up framework to systematically anticipate and explore potential new technologies. Second, to discuss top-down approaches to the idea of an emerging globally distributed intelligence, or “global brain” (see e.g. Heylighen 2007a). The global brain vision has its roots in organic conceptions of societies, and is in fact focused on the analogy between a nervous system and information processing in our global society (see Heylighen 2011a for the history of the concept). The focus of this vision is thus on information and