The Umwelt Representation Hypothesis: Rethinking Universality
Recent studies reveal striking representational alignment between artificial neural networks (ANNs) and biological brains, leading to proposals that all sufficiently capable systems converge on universal representations of reality. Here, we argue that this claim of Universality is premature. We introduce the Umwelt Representation Hypothesis (URH), proposing that alignment arises not from convergence toward a single global optimum, but from overlap in ecological constraints under which systems develop. We review empirical evidence showing that representational differences between species, individuals, and ANNs are systematic and adaptive, which is difficult to reconcile with Universality. ...
| Authors | Victoria Bosch, Rowan Sommers, Adrien Doerig et al. |
|---|---|
| Primary category | q-bio.NC |
| Published | 20 April 2026 |
| Last updated at source | 20 April 2026 |
Silytics shows public metadata from arXiv and links to the original. Information may be incomplete or out of date. Last refreshed 17 October 2026. Licenses and terms of the original apply to the work itself. Not financial, legal or professional advice.