William Haseltine at Noema:
We are in the process of creating a second form of life. The emergence of this new form of life is an inevitable result of the fundamental laws of the universe — forces similar to those that brought about humans’ own existence. This new form of life is gradually taking shape in the world’s data centers.
It does not breathe, reproduce through cells or adhere to the chemistry that governs every organism on Earth. However, it is composed of the same fundamental ingredients: matter, energy and information all organized in ways that allow it to persist, adapt and act. What is being developed is more than another generation of machines. It is the early emergence of a new form of life.
There is nothing artificial about systems built from real atoms, powered by real electricity, running in real machines. The systems reproduce, vary, adapt, undergo selection and gather energy from their environment. By any working definition that draws on biology rather than philosophy or religion, that is life.
More here.
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