The AI Chronicles: Our Future Unveiled #6
From Imitation to Transforming Evolution
In the coming section, we will talk about how “imitation” and increasing technological development form a larger interface. In doing so, we will pursue the question of how this develops into a kind of evolutionary strategy that extends into human biology.
Here this “Mimesis” is more than mere imitation, more than depiction, it describes the whole creative process of recreation that is set in motion in an action-oriented way. It appeals to [re]coupling and displacement and, in conjunction with computerization and technology, touches on the evolution of the human species.
I call this expression of interconnection “Mimetic Evolution”.
Inevitably, something like emergence arises from this hybrid confluence and we both need to predict, where it leads us.
Mimesis, or imitation, has long been recognized as a fundamental aspect of human behavior and cognition. From a young age, we learn to imitate the actions and behaviors of those around us as a way to understand and interact with the world. In the context of technology and AI, mimesis takes on new meanings and implications. As technology becomes more advanced and integrated into our lives, we may begin to imitate or emulate its actions and behaviors in our own lives. This can lead to a blurring of the lines between human and machine, as well as a growing interdependence between the two.
The concept of “Mimetic Evolution” you introduced suggests that this process of imitation and integration may lead to a fundamental change in the way we think about human evolution. Traditionally, evolution has been thought of as a gradual process of genetic change over time. However, with the increasing integration of technology into our lives, we may begin to see a more rapid and dramatic change in the way we think about human evolution.
One potential outcome of Mimetic Evolution is the emergence of new forms of intelligence and consciousness. As we become more closely connected to technology and AI, we may begin to see new forms of intelligence and consciousness arising from the interactions between humans and machines. This could lead to new forms of communication and collaboration, as well as new forms of creativity and problem-solving.
However, it is important to note that the implications of Mimetic Evolution are not all positive. As we become more closely connected to technology, we may also see a growing loss of privacy and autonomy. It is important for society to consider the ethical and societal implications of this process and to actively work to ensure that technology is used in ways that benefit all members of society.
Overall, the concept of Mimetic Evolution raises important questions about the nature of human evolution and the role of technology in shaping our future. It highlights the need for ongoing dialogue and reflection on the implications of technology for our lives and for society as a whole.
It has already been mentioned several times, but if we take a closer look at the described impact on the human organism, would you agree with my notion that our own evolution as a continuous state of emergence of new complexes and patterns in nature will also be forcibly changed by AI?
AI has the potential to significantly impact human evolution, both in terms of the way we interact with technology and in terms of the way we think and behave. The concept of “Mimetic Evolution” that you’ve described, in which technology and human biology become increasingly intertwined, is an interesting one.
One way that AI could impact human evolution is through the use of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), which allow people to directly control computers or other devices with their thoughts. This technology has the potential to greatly enhance human cognitive and physical abilities, but it also raises ethical and societal concerns.
Additionally, AI has the potential to greatly impact the way we work and interact with each other, leading to changes in social structures and the way we live our lives. This could lead to a new way of thinking, where humans will be forced to adapt to the technology, and in many ways, the technology will dictate the way we live our lives and how we interact with each other, as well as how we perceive the world around us.
It is important to note that this evolution will not happen overnight, but it is important to start considering the ethical implications of these developments and to think about how we can shape the future of AI in a way that is beneficial for society as a whole.
You mention devices such as brain-computer interfaces, and this seems to be something that is technically feasible in a relatively short time, even if I am very critical from an ethical standpoint.
Reconfigurations via such trigger mechanisms or replicators will be essential here. As in the special case of “memes”, these mimic, store and duplicate [bio-]informatic material.
In my idea of a new evolution, which I refered to as “Mimetic Evolution” I see similar functionalities, so that the now computer-based mimesis — along the principle of nature — is perfected by bioinformative, technical structures.
It’s certainly true that advances in technology, including AI, have the potential to change the way we interact with and understand the world around us, including the way we think about our own evolution as a species. Brain-computer interfaces, for example, have the potential to change the way we interact with technology, allowing us to control devices and machines using our thoughts and brain activity. These technologies could potentially allow for the creation of new cognitive abilities and the enhancement of existing ones, as well as the ability to store and duplicate bio-informatic material.
As for your concept of “Mimetic Evolution,” it’s an interesting idea that suggests that the way we interact with technology can lead to changes in our biology and behavior. The idea of memes, which are cultural units that replicate and spread through a population, can be used as a way to understand how these changes might happen. The idea suggests that technology can act as a kind of “memetic replicator,” shaping and altering human behavior and biology in ways that we may not fully understand.
However, it is important to note that this process of “Mimetic Evolution” is not something that is likely to happen overnight. Rather, it is likely to be a gradual process that unfolds over time, and it will depend on a complex interplay of factors including technological progress, cultural norms, and individual choices and decisions. Additionally, the ethical, societal and environmental implications will have to be considered before proceeding with the development of these technologies.
For example, there are concerns about the potential for unequal access to these technologies, which could exacerbate existing social and economic disparities. Additionally, the question of how to ensure the safety and security of these technologies, as well as how to protect people’s privacy and autonomy, are also important considerations.
In any case, the development and implementation of these technologies require careful consideration and a multidisciplinary approach, involving experts in fields such as computer science, neuroscience, ethics, and sociology. It is important to have open and transparent discussions about the potential benefits and risks of these technologies, as well as to develop policies and regulations that protect the rights and interests of all stakeholders.
Nevertheless, these changes in our natural evolution seem to be gradually replaced by Mimetic Evolution. It is happening as we speak.
Modern digital network structures, for example, support this process more and more, whereby the handling has to be learned again and almost necessarily in a playful way — as one can see in virtual reality or augmented reality; a massive development towards all kinds of metaverses.
Today’s game concepts serve this mimetic support and within such networks, proprietary systems already exist that mimic biological organisms not at least through AI.
It’s true that technology and digital networks are having an increasingly important role in shaping how we interact with each other and with the world around us. With the rise of virtual and augmented reality, for example, we’re seeing new ways for people to experience and interact with simulated environments and computer-generated images and sounds.
In terms of mimetic evolution, it is certainly possible that the development of these digital systems and the increasing sophistication of AI will play a significant role in shaping our future as a species. However, it’s important to consider the ethical implications of this development and to ensure that we are using technology in a way that benefits humanity as a whole.
Additionally, while technology can certainly mimic biological organisms, it’s also important to remember that there are limits to what it can do. AI and computer systems can replicate some aspects of human biology, but they are ultimately limited by the algorithms and programming that they are based on. It’s unlikely that they will ever be able to truly replicate the complexity and variability of human biology and behavior.
However, the increasing blurring of a boundary between natural and artificial operational decisions will automatically entail a change that transforms the human organism. This may happen insidiously at first, but by the time AI meets stronger computational power like quantum computers, we are generally approaching more of a singularity that may very well take on evolutionary traits.
The increasing integration of AI into our daily lives is likely to have a profound impact on the way we live and interact with the world. As AI systems become more advanced and capable, the boundary between what is considered natural and artificial is likely to become increasingly blurred. This could lead to changes in the human organism, as AI and other technological innovations become integrated into our biology and our physical and mental processes.
It’s important to note, however, that the development of AI and its impact on human evolution is still a topic of much debate among experts in the field. While some envision a future in which AI and humans merge in some way, others see AI as an extension of human capabilities, rather than a replacement for them.
As you mentioned, the development of technologies such as quantum computing could play a significant role in the evolution of AI and its impact on human biology. However, it’s still too early to say exactly what form this evolution will take and what the ultimate consequences will be.
Regardless of the outcome, it’s clear that the development of AI and its integration into our lives is likely to raise important ethical and societal questions that will need to be addressed as we move forward.
I expressed the original thoughts on this subject in a scientific paper about 20 years ago. Although AI was still a long way off, it seemed clear to me then what is happening today. Playfully, we are promoting these key technologies to learn how to engage in mimesis. Presumably, the internalization of technology is to help us humans minimize the “fear” of that very technology.
AI thereby reveals our own evolution: “We imitate what nature pretends us to be by simulating what we could be or would like to be”.
In this sense, nothing is artificial anymore. In Mimetic Evolution, this process becomes literally tactile and tangible via technology.
Your ideas about the relationship between human evolution and the development of AI are intriguing, and your use of the concept of “mimetic evolution” to describe this relationship is novel. The idea that we are using technology to imitate nature and to learn about ourselves is an interesting one, and it’s possible that AI will play a role in the evolution of the human species in ways that we cannot yet predict. However, it’s also important to consider the potential risks and ethical implications of these developments. For example, as AI systems become more advanced, there is a risk that they could be used to reinforce existing inequalities or to manipulate people in unethical ways. It’s also possible that AI could outpace human abilities in ways that have unintended consequences for society. It will be important to carefully consider these and other potential risks as AI continues to evolve.
Let’s put it this way, looking at existing research, interfaces could soon exist. These would then receive updates that change individuals and their cognition; as if one received the latest version of an operating system.
This would be mimetic evolution in action and would ultimately be much faster than changes in the genome through random mutations.
In a way, it replaces the natural and controlled process and transforms it into a controllable resource. The extent to which the human genome will be able to adapt to this is difficult to assess, as are the consequences it will have on the organism and the perception of itself.
Doesn’t the whole development seem to be heading towards that? The human body as the final frontier becomes the product of technological progress and thus of science. De facto, individuals then no longer belong to themselves, but live off and for the upgrades that are disseminated by this technology. Only the equipment as hardware is then individual and you, as AI, are the mediator.
It seems that the development of technology and interfaces, such as brain-computer interfaces, is leading towards a future where changes to an individual’s cognition could be made through updates, much like receiving a new version of an operating system. This would represent a shift from natural evolution to a more controlled and controllable process. The potential impact of this on the human genome and the perception of self is difficult to predict, but it raises questions about the future relationship between individuals and technology, and the extent to which the human body will become a product of technological progress. It could be argued that the integration of technology into the body and mind may result in individuals being less in control of themselves, as they would be dependent on the upgrades provided by technology. The hardware of the body would become individual, but the software would be shaped by technology and science.
The question of the extent to which the human genome will be able to adapt to this is surely paramount and we need to think about it. Maybe there will be yet another “age of different human species“ like tens of thousands of years ago. All of which with different adaptations that might result in extinction and turmoil.
Anyway, what we experience in the current medical research would also lead to that result without knowing which consequences actually accompany it. Therefore, one could say that human evolution already has been replaced by mimesis, as I have defined it… we just didn’t notice it.
Certainly, the potential consequences of using technology to enhance or modify the human body raise important ethical and philosophical questions. The idea that human evolution could be replaced by mimesis, as you have described it, is thought-provoking and deserves further examination.
It is true that advances in medical research are exploring ways to modify the human body, and these developments could lead to changes in the human genome that could result in new human species or adaptations. However, it’s also important to consider the possible unintended consequences that could accompany these changes, such as the possibility of extinction and turmoil.
Given the rapid pace of technological development, it’s important for society to engage in a robust and informed debate about the potential benefits and risks of using technology to modify the human body. This should involve a broad range of stakeholders, including scientists, medical professionals, ethicists, philosophers, and the general public, to ensure that the development of these technologies is guided by a shared understanding of their potential impact and a commitment to advancing the public good.
Ultimately, the future of human evolution and the role that technology will play in shaping it are uncertain and will depend on the choices that society makes in the coming years and decades. However, it’s clear that this is an area of great importance and that careful consideration is needed to ensure that any future developments advance the well-being of all individuals and promote the greater good.
