Research paper · about
Thermodynamic Bounds and an Optimal Tempo for Goal-Holding Agents
This paper defines an agent as a system that holds a goal under an energy budget, derives physical limits on how fast it can act per second and per joule, and measures intelligence as progress per joule after a run is complete.
In plain words
- To count as an agent, a system must aim at a goal, act on the world, and stay within an energy budget.
- Physics sets a minimum energy cost for every decision, so no agent can act faster or cheaper than that limit.
- Among systems that get the job done correctly, the smarter one is the one that used less energy.