Gravity from Finite Information Capacity: A Covariant Latency-Based Phenomenology (Newtonian Limit, PPN Mapping, and Horizon Saturation)

We present a covariant, phenomenological theory in which gravity—observed as proper-time slowing and acceleration—emerges from finite local information-processing capacity. A dimensionless information-load scalar is defined as where is the relevant local bit-content and is the causal-patch (Physical Buffer) capacity. To ensure a correct saturation (“freeze”) limit, we introduce the latency field We postulate an exponential conformal metric ansatz so that and . We show how (i) Landauer’s principle together with holographic scaling reproduce the Newtonian potential in the weak field; (ii) a covariant scalar-field action for , coupled to a matter-information scalar, yields field equations equivalent to a Poisson kernel in the static limit; (iii) the linearized metric recovers Parametrized Post-Newtonian (PPN) parameters at displayed order; and (iv) black holes are interpretable as saturation regions (equivalently )—a “Null Pointer Singularity” (NPS). We then present an effective-field-theory (EFT) completion with explicit stability conditions and screening mechanisms (Galileon/Vainshtein and optional chameleon), enabling compatibility with solar-system bounds while keeping cosmological-scale activity. We define an informational energy density via a generalized Yücel–Landauer relation, discuss cosmological embedding (an effective informational dark sector), and provide an observational and numerical program to confront the model with data.