The Topology of Multimodal Fusion: Why Current Architectures Fail at Creative Cognition

Researchers identify a fundamental topological limitation in current multimodal AI architectures like CLIP and GPT-4V, proposing that their 'contact topology' structure prevents creative cognition. The paper introduces a philosophical framework combining Chinese epistemology with neuroscience to propose new architectures using Neural ODEs and topological regularization.

• →Current multimodal AI systems like CLIP, GPT-4V, and Gemini share a structural flaw called 'contact topology' that limits creative capabilities.
• →The research combines Wittgenstein's philosophy with Chinese craft epistemology to propose a new 'cruciform framework' for AI architecture.
• →The authors propose implementing solutions using Neural ODEs with topological regularization to overcome current limitations.
• →New benchmarks ANALOGY-MM and META-TOP are introduced to test cross-civilizational topological understanding.
• →The limitation is described as topological rather than parametric, suggesting fundamental architectural changes are needed.