Motivated by properties of tensor networks, we conjecture that an arbitrary gravitating region a can be assigned a generalized entanglement wedge E⊃a, such that quasi-local operators in E have a holographic representation in the full algebra generated by quasi-local operators in a. The universe need not be asymptotically flat or AdS, and a need not be asymptotic or weakly gravitating.
On a static Cauchy surface Σ, we propose that E is the superset of a that minimizes the generalized entropy. We prove that E satisfies a no-cloning theorem and appropriate forms of strong subadditivity and nesting. If alies near a portion A of the conformal boundary of AdS, our proposal reduces to the Quantum Minimal Surface prescription applied to A. We also discuss possible covariant extensions of this proposal, such as the smallest generalized entropy quantum normal superset of a.
Our results are consistent with the conjecture that information in E that is spacelike to a in the semiclassical description can nevertheless be recovered from a, by microscopic operators that break that description. We thus propose that E quantifies the range of holographic encoding, an important nonlocal feature of quantum gravity, in general spacetimes.