Dialogue on Brains, Robots, and the Equation We Can’t Write
Sometimes I find myself thinking about why humans can move, react, and learn so effortlessly while robots—despite all their power—still struggle to pick up an apple without making a mess.
I don’t know much about robotics or control theory, but I do know curiosity.
So instead of pretending to be an expert, I decided to have a conversation.
With myself.
Like Galileo once did, when talking about the motion of planets was risky…
except my dangers are mostly intellectual, not theological
The voices are familiar: the Dreamer, the Engineer, and someone unexpected.
Full disclosure: the Engineer voice was inspired by my late-night discussions with ChatGPT. Yes, I consult an AI about robots. Irony noted.
Dreamer:
Everyone says robots will replace us soon. If they’re so advanced, why can’t they do the simple things we do?
Engineer:
“Simple”? You think picking up an apple is simple?
It looks easy because you do it. But the moment a robot touches something, physics turns into chaos—friction, slip, deformation, unexpected forces.
Dreamer:
But my brain handles it effortlessly. I don’t even think about it.
Engineer:
Exactly. Humans adjust before mistakes happen. Robots adjust after.
That’s the real gap. Not power. Not speed.
Sensorimotor intelligence.
Dreamer:
So there has to be something deeper behind it.
An equation.
A principle.
Something that ties prediction, movement, and learning together.
Engineer:
Maybe. In control theory they’d say something boring like:
You predict what should happen, compare it to reality, and adjust.
Robots need explicit equations like that.
Your brain… doesn’t.
It seems to learn its own.
Dreamer:
Which means we can describe what the brain does…
but not how it does it.
A faint cough echoes in the background.
Gödel:
You may never be able to write that equation.
Dreamer:
Bro, who invited you?
Gödel:
Logic did.
Engineer:
Great. Here we go.
Gödel:
Even if there is a principle like
you might be unable to formalize it from within the system that uses it.
A system cannot fully describe itself.
Dreamer:
So you’re saying the brain might be running a beautiful hidden rule…
…but we can’t express it?
Gödel:
Precisely.
Engineer:
Or maybe there’s no elegant rule at all.
Maybe it’s just millions of evolutionary hacks duct-taped together.
Dreamer:
Even if that were true… I want to look for it.
Engineer:
Why?
Dreamer:
Because I’m a scientist.
I have to believe there’s something there and try regardless.
Sometimes I think about this as I work on applications for graduate school.
I don’t just want a degree—I want to push against that boundary, even if I never reach the end of it.
Maybe I can do a little good along the way.
Maybe I can help someone else fall in love with these questions.
Maybe estoy loco.
But curiosity has carried humanity this far.
Gödel:
Even if the equation cannot be written?
Dreamer:
Especially then.
Maybe we’ll never find the missing equation.
But searching for it feels like one of the most human things we can do.
*No AI was harmed in the making of this internal crisis.