Thermodynamics of prediction

Area of Science:

• Thermodynamics
• Information Theory
• Complex Systems

Background:

• Systems responding to stochastic signals compute implicit models of their environment.
• System dynamics retain information about past environmental fluctuations, with some predictive of future states.

Purpose of the Study:

• To expose the fundamental equivalence between model inefficiency and thermodynamic inefficiency.
• To demonstrate the connection between information usage and thermodynamic efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of information dynamics in systems driven by stochastic signals.
• Quantification of model inefficiency and thermodynamic dissipation.

Main Results:

• Model inefficiency, reflecting non-predictive information, is fundamentally equivalent to thermodynamic inefficiency (dissipation).
• This equivalence holds regardless of proximity to thermodynamic equilibrium.
• Applicable to diverse systems, including biomolecular machines.

Conclusions:

• Effective information utilization is intrinsically linked to efficient thermodynamic operation.
• Systems designed for maximal energetic efficiency must be predictive.
• Understanding this link offers insights into the design and function of information-processing systems.