News
2026
Mathematical approaches to the study of agents
A unified review of mathematical approaches to individuality, normativity, and interactional asymmetry. Continue reading Mathematical approaches to the study of agents
World models of environment, agent and joint agent-environment systems
A formal distinction between environment, agent, and joint agent-environment world models. Continue reading World models of environment, agent and joint agent-environment systems
A Braitenberg vehicle’s habitat
A formal account of the environment or habitat associated with an agent. Continue reading A Braitenberg vehicle’s habitat
The Stream of Computation
The stream of computation and temporal continuity in artificial systems. Continue reading The Stream of Computation
Active inference for action-unaware agents
A comparison of action-aware and action-unaware active inference agents. Continue reading Active inference for action-unaware agents
Bayesian updates from coalgebraic determinisation
Bayesian filtering as an instance of coalgebraic determinisation. Continue reading Bayesian updates from coalgebraic determinisation
Paper accepted at ICML 2026
Compositional behavioral semantics for state abstraction in reinforcement learning. Continue reading Paper accepted at ICML 2026
From Life to Artificial Agents
An invited presentation on mathematical approaches to agency in natural and artificial systems. Continue reading From Life to Artificial Agents
2025
Presentation at the Italian Embassy in Japan
The Association of Italian Research in Japan (AIRJ) Symposium 2025: Building Trustworthy AI and Advancing Collaboration Between Italy and Japan Continue reading Presentation at the Italian Embassy in Japan
Talk at Models of Consciousness
The Association for Mathematical Consciousness Science (AMCS) is an international association of scientists and philosophers devoted to mathematical topics in the scientific study of consciousness. Continue reading Talk at Models of Consciousness
Awarded a grant by ARIA - Mathematics for Safe AI
Manuel was awarded an ARIA grant for “Combining Physical and Intentional Stance for Safe AI”, a two-year project running from 2025 to 2027. Continue reading Awarded a grant by ARIA - Mathematics for Safe AI
Seminar at Unified theory of prediction and action meeting
The fifth research area meeting of Transformative Research Area (A): Unified theory of prediction and action Continue reading Seminar at Unified theory of prediction and action meeting
“AI in a vat” accepted at RLC
The Reinforcement Learning Conference (RLC) provides a venue where reinforcement learning researchers can interact and share their research in a more focused setting than typical large machine learning venues. Continue reading “AI in a vat” accepted at RLC
Talk at Breakthrough Discuss
Breakthrough Initiatives: Life As We Don’t Yet Know It Continue reading Talk at Breakthrough Discuss
Seminar at IoB Event
Internet of Brains: Liberation from Biological Limitations via Physical, Cognitive and Perceptual Augmentation Continue reading Seminar at IoB Event
A Bayesian Interpretation of the Internal Model Principle
How do we connect “internal models” in control to “Bayesian models” in cognitive science? Continue reading A Bayesian Interpretation of the Internal Model Principle
Co-organising ALIFE 2025
The International Conference in Artificial Life brings together world-leading researchers to discuss the latest advances in the synthesis and simulation of living systems. Continue reading Co-organising ALIFE 2025
Seminar at CHAIN, Hokkaido University
The Center for Human Nature, Artificial Intelligence, and Neuroscience (CHAIN) - Hokkaido University, JP hosts regular seminars from researchers in areas including philosophy, machine learning, neuroscience, biology, dynamical systems and artificial intelligence and life. Continue reading Seminar at CHAIN, Hokkaido University
2024
Disentangled representations for causal cognition
Can disentangled representations be used to explain how agents learn about causality? Continue reading Disentangled representations for causal cognition
Talk at BCAM
Theoretical and Experimental Approaches to Goal-Directed Behavior Workshop. Continue reading Talk at BCAM
Podcast on (actually) agentic AI
Mindful Machines is a podcast series centred around topics of AI Safety. Continue reading Podcast on (actually) agentic AI
Talk at the Aware and Alive Workshop
Aware and Alive workshop. Continue reading Talk at the Aware and Alive Workshop
Talk at TAIS 2024
Technical AI Safety Conference (TAIS). Continue reading Talk at TAIS 2024
Podcast on foundations of agency for ALife
What ALife! Podcast is a podcast series centred around topics of Artificial Life. Continue reading Podcast on foundations of agency for ALife
Elected in the Board of Directors of ISAL
The International Society for Artificial Life (ISAL) was established in May 2001 as a non-profit organization. It is governed by a Board of Directors that consists of elected ISAL members as well as individuals specially appointed by the Board. Continue reading Elected in the Board of Directors of ISAL
2023
Seminar at COGS, University of Sussex
The Centre for Cognitive Science (COGS), University of Sussex, UK COGS fosters interaction and collaboration among all those working in cognitive science at Sussex, including researchers and students in artificial intelligence, psychology, linguistics, neuroscience and philosophy. It is a pioneering, internationally recognised centre for interdisciplinary investigation into the nature of cognition, be it natural or artificial. Continue reading Seminar at COGS, University of Sussex
Work on hybrid life special sessions published in WIREs Cognitive Science
WIREs Cognitive Science aims to publish research from cognitive biology, computer science, economics, linguistics, neuroscience, philosophy, and psychology with the potential to illuminate how the mind is structured, how it has evolved, how it develops through life, and how its functions are instantiated in neural circuits and computations. Continue reading Work on hybrid life special sessions published in WIREs Cognitive Science
Co-organising ALIFE 2023
The International Conference in Artificial Life brings together world-leading researchers to discuss the latest advances in the synthesis and simulation of living systems. Continue reading Co-organising ALIFE 2023
Seminar at CHAIN, Hokkaido University
The Center for Human Nature, Artificial Intelligence, and Neuroscience (CHAIN) - Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan hosts regular seminars from researchers in areas including philosophy, machine learning, neuroscience, biology, dynamical systems and artificial intelligence and life. Continue reading Seminar at CHAIN, Hokkaido University
Lecturer for the CHAIN Winter School on Minimal Cognition and Agency
The Center for Human Nature, Artificial Intelligence, and Neuroscience (CHAIN) - Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan hosts regular seminars from researchers in areas including philosophy, machine learning, neuroscience, biology, dynamical systems and artificial intelligence and life. Continue reading Lecturer for the CHAIN Winter School on Minimal Cognition and Agency
2022
Talk at ASSC 25
The annual meeting of the Association of Scientific Studies of Consciousness (ASSC). Continue reading Talk at ASSC 25
Talk at Consciousness Club Tokyo
Consciousness Club Tokyo is a series of meetings (talk + debate) where invited speakers discuss topics related to consciousness. Continue reading Talk at Consciousness Club Tokyo
Organising Hybrid Life V
How can we best understand life and cognition? How can we combine the results of different technological advances with natural organisms? Continue reading Organising Hybrid Life V
Co-organising ALIFE 2022
The International Conference in Artificial Life brings together world-leading researchers to discuss the latest advances in the synthesis and simulation of living systems. Continue reading Co-organising ALIFE 2022
2021
Organising Hybrid Life IV
How can we best understand life and cognition? How can we combine the results of different technological advances with natural organisms? Continue reading Organising Hybrid Life IV
The Emperor’s New Markov Blankets
Do Markov blankets in the free energy principle demarcate minds and living systems? Continue reading The Emperor’s New Markov Blankets
2020
Paper accepted at ALIFE 2020
The International Conference in Artificial Life brings together world-leading researchers to discuss the latest advances in the synthesis and simulation of living systems. Continue reading Paper accepted at ALIFE 2020
Papers (2) accepted at WCCI 2020
The IEEE World Congress on Computational Intelligence (IEEE WCCI) is the world’s largest technical event in the field of computational intelligence. Continue reading Papers (2) accepted at WCCI 2020
Organising Hybrid Life III
How can we best understand life and cognition? How can we combine the results of different technological advances with natural organisms? Continue reading Organising Hybrid Life III
