Machine Psychology: integrating operant conditioning with the non-axiomatic reasoning system for advancing artificial general intelligence research

Abstract

This paper presents an interdisciplinary framework, Machine Psychology, which integrates principles from operant learning psychology with a particular Artificial Intelligence model, the Non-Axiomatic Reasoning System (NARS), to advance Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) research. Central to this framework is the assumption that adaptation is fundamental to both biological and artificial intelligence, and can be understood using operant conditioning principles. The study evaluates this approach through three operant learning tasks using OpenNARS for Applications (ONA): simple discrimination, changing contingencies, and conditional discrimination tasks. In the simple discrimination task, NARS demonstrated rapid learning, achieving 100% correct responses during training and testing phases. The changing contingencies task illustrated NARS’s adaptability, as it successfully adjusted its behavior when task conditions were reversed. In the conditional discrimination task, NARS managed complex learning scenarios, achieving high accuracy by forming and utilizing complex hypotheses based on conditional cues. These results validate the use of operant conditioning as a framework for developing adaptive AGI systems. NARS’s ability to function under conditions of insufficient knowledge and resources, combined with its sensorimotor reasoning capabilities, positions it as a robust model for AGI. The Machine Psychology framework, by implementing aspects of natural intelligence such as continuous learning and goal-driven behavior, provides a scalable and flexible approach for real-world applications. Future research should explore using enhanced NARS systems, more advanced tasks and applying this framework to diverse, complex tasks to further advance the development of human-level AI.