Generalized Agent Theory from First Principles

To address the fragmentation in the definition of Agent and the profound challenges concerning the nature of intelligence, consciousness, and the observer-based unification of physics, this paper establishes Generalized Agent Theory from first principles. The cornerstone of this theory is Standard Agent Model, which conceptualizes Agent as a system possessing five indispensable functional modules: information input, output, dynamic storage, creation, and control, corresponding to a five-dimensional capability vector space.Based on Standard Agent Model, we systematically classify Agent，including Absolute Zero Agent (Alpha Agent), Omniscient and Omnipotent Agent (Omega Agent), and Finite Agent。and further detail 243 subtypes, while also exploring multi-agent relationships from the dimensions of perception, communication, and interaction. Subsequently, we introduce the “Polar Intelligent Field Model,” characterized by an Alpha-decay field and an Omega-enhancement field, to describe its evolutionary dynamics within capability space. The framework also proposes "Wisdom" (A metric for an agent's aggregate intelligence ) as a key intrinsic property of Agent, central to its interaction with these fields.Generalized Agent Theory offers a new interpretation of intelligence and consciousness: intelligence is defined as the overall efficacy of Agent in achieving its evolutionary goals, while consciousness is identified as the control function and its operational process. This provides a principled criterion for assessing the state of consciousness in current artificial intelligence systems, such as large language models.Crucially, Generalized Agent Theory reconceptualizes the physical observer as a specialized form of Agent and posits that the Universe itself is a dynamically evolving Finite Agent. From this perspective, fundamental physical concepts such as subjectivity/objectivity, uncertainty, the nature of spacetime, and entropy are reinterpreted as relative categories contingent upon the capabilities of the observer-agent. The theory further posits that the differences among classical mechanics, relativity, and quantum mechanics stem from the disparate capability configurations of their respective implicit observers, thereby offering a novel path toward their unification. This research aims to provide a unified foundational framework to advance research in artificial intelligence, physics, and related disciplines.