The Orthogonal Bet: Understanding Embodied Intelligence
Aug 23, 2024
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Michael Levin, a biologist and Vannevar Bush Professor at Tufts University, dives into the complexities of embodied intelligence and morphogenesis. He discusses how organisms, like planaria, regenerate and the creation of xenobots, blurring lines between biology and artificial life. Levin challenges traditional computing models, introducing concepts like polycomputing, showcasing how evolution repurposes biological structures. His insights into bioelectrical states reveal how manipulation can lead to surprising outcomes, pushing boundaries of our understanding of intelligence.
Embodied intelligence reveals that organisms can adapt their strategies and problem-solving methods based on environmental context, challenging traditional definitions of intelligence.
Morphogenesis exemplifies collective intelligence in biology, showcasing how cells communicate bioelectrically to develop complex shapes and structures during organism formation.
Polycomputing highlights the flexibility in biological systems, allowing cells to interpret the same interactions in multiple ways, unlocking new interpretations of life processes.
Deep dives
Understanding Embodied Intelligence
Embodied intelligence is defined as the ability of organisms to solve problems through adaptability and ingenuity, rather than relying solely on genetic coding. This concept emphasizes that intelligence is not just about having set responses or behaviors, but about the capacity to change strategies and approaches when faced with new challenges. For instance, a creature might achieve a goal using different bodily configurations or methods based on its environmental context, showcasing a dynamic form of problem-solving. This broader definition prompts an exploration of intelligence that extends beyond traditional views, inviting consideration of various life forms and their unique cognitive abilities.
The Role of Morphogenesis in Biology
Morphogenesis refers to the biological process that causes an organism to develop its shape and structure. This process illustrates that cells coordinate as a form of collective intelligence, solving problems related to anatomical spaces during development and regeneration. For example, when an embryo is forming, cells communicate bioelectrically to create the appropriate configuration necessary for the organism's shape. Such operations underscore the notion that biology is not merely a mechanical process; rather, it involves complex interactions that enable organisms to adapt and evolve in response to their environment.
Polycomputing and Its Implications
Polycomputing is the idea that biological systems can execute different computations based on their context and perspective, similar to how literature can be interpreted in various ways by different readers. This concept recognizes that biological agents, such as cells, can derive multiple meanings from the same set of chemical and physical interactions, illustrating the flexibility of biological 'software.' This approach encourages scientists to embrace diverse interpretations of biological functions rather than searching for a singular, definitive understanding. By viewing biological processes through a polycomputing lens, researchers can uncover previously overlooked dimensions of agency within living systems.
Xenobots: Unraveling Synthetic Life
Xenobots are novel synthetic life forms created from living cells that demonstrate remarkable capabilities, such as self-replication and adaptation to their environment, without any genetic modification. These organisms have been observed to engage in behaviors like healing and moving toward wounds, highlighting their potential for applications in regenerative medicine and bioengineering. Because they are built from cell types that naturally exist, xenobots challenge traditional views of life and intelligence, suggesting that even basic biological units can be reconfigured to display complex behaviors. This supports the idea that biological systems possess layers of potential that extend beyond their initial design.
Interconnecting Life and Technology through Artificial Life
The field of artificial life (A-life) explores life-like behaviors in synthetic systems, encouraging breakthroughs in understanding the essence of life itself. This interdisciplinary area promotes collaboration between biology and technology, emphasizing the construction of systems that exhibit life-like properties. Researchers are finding that discoveries in A-life can redefine our understanding of biological processes, prompting a reevaluation of classifications that separate living organisms from machines. The ongoing dialogue between A-life and biological research represents an exciting frontier for insights into both natural and synthetic life forms.
Welcome to The Orthogonal Bet, an ongoing mini-series that explores the unconventional ideas and delightful patterns that shape our world. Hosted by Samuel Arbesman.
In this episode, Sam speaks with Michael Levin, a biologist and the Vannevar Bush Professor at Tufts University. Michael’s work encompasses how information is processed in biology, the development of organismal structures, the field of Artificial Life, and much more.
Sam wanted to talk to Michael because of his pioneering research in these areas. Biology, as Michael’s work reveals, is far more complex than the mechanistic explanations often taught in school. For instance, the process of morphogenesis—how organisms develop their specific forms—challenges our understanding of computation in biology, and Michael is leading the way in this field. He has deeply explored concepts such as the relationship between hardware and software in biological systems, the process of morphogenesis, the idea of polycomputing, and even the notion of cognition in biology.
From his investigations into the regeneration process in planaria—a type of flatworm—to the creation of xenobots, a form of Artificial Life, Michael stands at the forefront of groundbreaking ideas in understanding how biology functions.
