Artificiality: Minds Meeting Machines

Benjamin Bratton: The Platypus and the Planetary

Jun 7, 2025
In this conversation, Benjamin Bratton, a Professor of Philosophy of Technology and Director at Antikythera, shares his insights on planetary-scale computation. He compares his interdisciplinary work to a platypus, seamlessly blending diverse fields. The discussion dives into how artificial intelligence evolves like biology, highlighting concepts like allopoiesis. Bratton also examines the implications of AI agents on human identity, urging us to rethink individual agency in a tech-driven world. Lastly, he explores the idea of Earth having its own computational consciousness.
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ANECDOTE

Platypus Metaphor for His Work

  • Benjamin Bratton describes his work as a "platypus" combining diverse fields into a coherent whole.
  • This metaphor illustrates his transdisciplinary journey over 30 years in planetary-scale computation.
INSIGHT

Computation as Evolutionary Mechanism

  • Bratton argues computation literally evolves, mirroring biological evolution mechanisms like niche construction and symbiogenesis.
  • This positions artificial computation as central to humanity's environmental transformation and survival.
INSIGHT

Unique Traits of Artificial Computation

  • Artificial computational technologies differ from biological ones in noise and stochasticity but share isomorphic mechanisms.
  • They unify encoding, transmission, and generation of information, enabling them to act as evolutionary agents.
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