Self-Reflective Machines

 One of the most unique and challenging aspects of intelligent living systems is their ability to self-reflect: To reconstruct models of their own morphology and of their own behavior, then use those models to adapt to new circumstances. Processes such as self-reflection play a key role in accelerating adaptation by reducing costs of physical experimentation. Similarly, the ability of a machine to observe and reconstruct models of the morphology and behavior of other machines is key to effective cooperation and competition. This talk will demonstrate a number of experiments in self reflecting robotic system, and argue that reflective processes are essential in achieving meta-cognitive capacities such as theory-of-mind, consciousness and perhaps ultimately a form of self-awareness.