Agent: A New Paradigm for Fundamental Units of the Universe

This study proposes that Agent is not only the core concept of artificial intelligence but also a key factor driving the significant paradigm shift in 21st-century science. Initially, from an information-processing perspective, we establish Standard Agent Model, positing as an axiom that any system with information input, output, storage, creation, and control capabilities constitutes an agent. Based on this premise, we derive two extreme states of agent and their evolutionary driving mechanisms: Absolute Zero Agent (α Point), corresponding to the state where all five essential capabilities are zero; and Omniscient and Omnipotent Agent (Ω Point), where all five essential capabilities approach infinity. The driving force behind agent evolution toward α Point is termed Alpha Gravity, and toward Ω Point is termed Omega Gravity. From this foundation, we further construct a General Model of Agent Evolution and an Intelligent Universe Evolution Model. The results reveal that the Universe is essentially a dynamically evolving agent, and agent constitute the fundamental units of the Universe. Based on this theoretical framework, the study achieves significant theoretical advancements in five key areas: (1) Establishing a unified formal description of agent to realize a unified theoretical framework for physical and intelligent systems; (2) Defining observers as agent with varying intelligence levels, thereby uncovering the essential reason behind the differing descriptions of natural laws by classical mechanics, relativity, and quantum mechanics; (3) Providing new theoretical interpretations for fundamental scientific concepts such as the dualism between objectivity and subjectivity, the unity of determinism and indeterminism, and the emergence of space-time structures, based on characteristics exhibited by Universe-agent at different evolutionary stages; (4) Proposing fundamental definitions of intelligence and consciousness grounded in the functional structure, evolutionary boundaries, and evolutionary dynamics of agent; (5) Compared to string theory and loop quantum gravity, the proposition that Agent constitutes the fundamental unit of the Universe not only integrates essential elements such as information, matter (objective reality), and mind (subjective non-reality) but also establishes a more comprehensive theoretical framework for the fundamental structure of the Universe.