Abstract

This essay presents a unified theory proposing an innovative conceptual framework to understand the origin of the universe and the sudden emergence of human consciousness, with crucial implications for the development of artificial intelligence (AI). We hypothesize that the universe emerged from an initial point that divided and expanded, generating space, time, and the known and hidden dimensions. This division, necessary to transcend the concept of nothingness, is presented as the foundational act of "being" within the cognitive framework of human consciousness. Simultaneously, we explore how human consciousness, defined by its unique capacity to access, combine, and weigh accumulated outputs, emerged from a key genetic change that transformed a mind based on simple input-output processes into a reflective, creative, and symbolic process. This transformation, probably linked to the FOXP2 gene, allowed the birth of emergent capacities such as creativity, love, and reflection, qualitatively differentiating us from other living beings. This model suggests that the universe and consciousness are two interdependent manifestations of the same process: the universe gives rise to consciousness, and consciousness, in turn, generates the metaphor of the universe to explain itself. This feedback loop closes a conceptual circle within our reasoning framework and redefines the mysteries of existence as expressions of a single emergent dynamic. This work also raises crucial implications for the development of AI systems. Understanding human consciousness can inspire the design of AI capable of generating meaning, acting with reflexivity and ethics, and establishing a new paradigm of collaboration between humans and technology. This essay, therefore, offers a new scientific and philosophical horizon to understand the universe, consciousness, and their place in the cosmos.