Active Inference & Free Energy Principle

Friston free energy minimization via perception and action

Active inference (Friston 2010) posits that agents minimize variational free energy F = KL[q(s)‖p(s|o)] − ln p(o). The agent maintains beliefs q(s) about hidden states, perceives sensory input, and acts to bring observations closer to preferred (prior) states. Blue dot = agent belief; green circle = preferred state; red dot = true state. Arrows show prediction error driving both belief update (perception) and movement (action).