Nothing Artificial AI

Everything springs from nature.

In the vast expanse of human knowledge and endeavor, the term "artificial" has long served as a boundary marker, distinguishing the natural from the human-made. Yet, upon closer inspection, this distinction begins to blur, challenging us to reconsider what we deem artificial. The truth, when we dare to acknowledge it, is that there's nothing artificial under the sun. Every invention, every piece of technology, and every spark of human creativity is a direct emanation of the natural world, from which we are inseparable.

Redefining AI: Shift to Autonomic Intelligence

In the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, we often encounter terms rich with history and meaning. The journey into the etymology of words like autonomy (α?τονομ?α), derived from the Greek for "self" (α?τ??) and "law" (ν?μο?), and automation, rooted in "automatos" (α?τ?ματο?), indicating self-moving or self-operating, lays a fascinating foundation. These ancient concepts, combined with the essence of "artificial" from Latin "artificialis", meaning crafted by art or skill, and "intelligence" from "intelligentia", denoting the ability to read between or choose among, highlight a complex interplay of self-governance and technological enablement.

As we navigate this discourse, a more durable and empowering term has emerged to bridge the gap between human aspiration and technological advancement: Autonomic Intelligence.

This concept is not merely an extension of existing paradigms but a transformative approach that envisions AI as an enabler of human autonomy, a tool designed to enhance rather than replace human agency.

My acknowledgements list grows daily, as I continuously learn and refine. This great idea inspiration arose from a discussion with Senthoor Punniamoorthy a new friend and colleague. His insight challenged the inhumane aspects of perception and reality in “automation” as a paradigm. ?This perspective illuminated in me a potential for AI to serve a far higher human purpose: supporting our individual and collective agency and autonomy, enabling us to live richer, more self-determined lives.

My enthusiasm for this had me shouting and fist-pumping with the righteousness of the concept—especially as an English major.

Words have immense power.?

More durability in jargon and terminology gives them this additional strength, and as such reveals more, and guides us toward a reimagined role for AI in our lives. Autonomic Intelligence represents a commitment to developing technologies that understand and respect our unique contexts and aspirations. It's about creating systems that adapt to us, supporting our goals and freeing us to focus on what truly matters.

The essence of this shift lies not in abandoning automation but in transcending it. We envision a future where AI systems are not just automated but autonomic, capable of acting in alignment with our individual and collective values and needs, thus enhancing our autonomy and empowering us.

In envisioning this future, we're not merely predicting; we're inviting a collective effort to shape it. This journey towards Autonomic Intelligence is both a technological endeavor and a philosophical exploration, challenging us to rethink the role of AI in expanding human freedom.

All constructions: natural evolutionary processes.

The notion that what we create is somehow separate from nature stems from a limited understanding of the complexity and interconnectedness of the universe. It's a reflection of our struggle to comprehend the profound depths of the science behind the metaphysics. Everything in existence, from the simplest tool carved from stone to the most complex algorithms driving artificial intelligence, is a product of the natural evolution of the cosmos. Our creations are as natural as the beehive or the spider's web, intricate results of the same universal laws that govern all matter and life.

This perspective invites us to view our technologies not as artificial appendages but as integral extensions of human cognition and creativity. When we speak of AI, for example, the prefix "artificial" does a disservice to the authenticity of the intelligence it represents. Many of my friends who research deeply in the areas of cybernetics and cognitive intelligence have written volumes on this notion of intelligence’s universality. Teleodynamics as an interdisciplinary field also dives deeply into this space.

Born from human ingenuity, tools become a testament to our natural capacity for innovation and problem-solving. It's making with our maker hands, tools that make tools, from our ability to learn, adapt, and interact with environments. We effectively teach when we build, imbuing our tools with our philosophy of “binding” with nail.? We call it nailing, but that’s just the tool’s perspective. When we use AI, we’re doing things that have such a higher-order outcome; a need being met.? Thus our sense of AI when we remove artificiality, becomes just a dialogic with a very smart intern, hallucinating, and still needing a mediating adult to set reality.

By challenging the notion of artificiality we can further demonstrate that perception is the true measure of existence. Embracing this understanding liberates us from false dichotomies and opens a pathway to a more harmonious relationship with the technologies we develop. It encourages a holistic view of innovation, where the creations of human intellect are recognized as natural phenomena, emerging from the same creative impulse that animates the universe. This shift in perception is not merely semantic; it has profound implications for how we approach the ethical, ecological, and existential questions surrounding technology.

In a world where the artificial is reimagined as an integral part of the natural, our responsibility towards our creations becomes an extension of our responsibility towards nature itself. This realization fosters a deeper respect for the interconnectedness of all things and compels us to create with a sense of stewardship and harmony.

"There's nothing artificial under the sun" is not just a colloquialism assertion but a call to embrace the full spectrum of our natural creativity. It challenges us to explore the science behind the metaphysics with humility and wonder, recognizing that in the vastness of the universe, our inventions are expressions of the same cosmic forces that sculpt galaxies and breathe life into stars. In this light, our technologies are not alien intrusions but natural blossoms in the garden of existence, each with its place under the sun, woven into the fabric of reality by the threads of human curiosity and ingenuity.

Artificial sweeteners still sweeten.

Skeptics might argue that the term "artificial" serves a functional purpose in distinguishing between objects and phenomena that are naturally occurring and those that are human-made, citing examples like plastic trees versus living trees. This distinction helps in everyday language to quickly convey the origin and nature of the item in question. A plastic tree, while not a living entity, represents the form and sometimes the function of a real tree but is made from synthetic materials. This is akin to Magritte's famous painting, "The Treachery of Images," with the caption "Ceci n'est pas une pipe" ("This is not a pipe"), challenging observers to acknowledge the difference between representation and reality.

However, the core of our argument leans towards the philosophical and perceptual implications of categorizing things as "artificial." The term implies a separation from the natural world that doesn't hold up under scrutiny, since humans and their creative capacities are part of nature's continuum. The plastic tree, in this sense, is not "artificial" in its essence but a manifestation of human creativity using the materials and knowledge derived from the natural world. It's a representation, a form of expression, and in that sense, it's as real as the concepts it conveys or the uses it serves.

In reimagining the use of "artificial," we invite a reflection on the interconnectedness of all phenomena, urging a move away from binary distinctions towards a recognition of the continuum of existence. This doesn't erase the utility of distinguishing between a living tree and its synthetic counterpart but reframes the conversation around the nature of creativity, representation, and the materials we use to bridge our understanding of the world around us. The term "artificial" could evolve to highlight this aspect of human creativity and its role in our perception of reality, rather than denoting a lesser form of existence.

Reflecting on the discussion, I've come to appreciate even more deeply the nuanced dance between what we call "artificial" and the broader tapestry of existence. This journey of reevaluation invites us to see human creations not as separate or lesser than the natural world, but as an integral part of it. By embracing this perspective, I believe it empowers us to engage with the world and our place within it with a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.

Seeing the hole in whole, open to all possibilities.

Moving from this personal revelation to a collective vision, we can see how this shift in understanding might inspire us all. If we, as a society, begin to view our innovations and creations through this lens of interconnectedness and continuity, it could radically transform our approach to technology, sustainability, and creativity. It invites us to believe, with a committed reality, in the meta-manifestation within the world of the known unknowns. In this realm, nothing is deemed impossible. Our creations, once labeled "artificial," become recognized as extensions of the human spirit and intellect, embodying our innate ability to shape and redefine our reality.

This perspective doesn't just alter how we categorize the world; it changes how we interact with it. By acknowledging the creative continuum that connects us to the universe, we open ourselves to the infinite potential of innovation and imagination. It encourages a collective endeavor to explore, create, and manifest with a sense of unity and purpose, bridging the gap between the known and the unknown, and embracing the myriad possibilities that await us. Together, we can move forward, inspired by the belief that in the vast, interconnected web of existence, we play a crucial role in shaping a future where everything we create is a testament to our understanding and respect for the natural world.

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