Michael Levin discusses the concept of diverse intelligence, arguing against the notion of discrete natural kinds in biology and advocating for a broader understanding of intelligence that includes unconventional cognitive systems and AI. He explores how biological systems, from single cells to complex organisms, exhibit problem-solving capabilities and collective intelligence in anatomical space. Levin introduces examples like caterpillars, planaria, xenobots, and anthropots to illustrate the plasticity and reprogrammability of biological tissues, emphasizing the importance of bioelectrical communication in morphogenesis and challenging traditional views on genetics and developmental constraints. The talk concludes by urging a reevaluation of ethical frameworks to encompass the diverse range of intelligences that will emerge through synthetic biology and bioengineering, promoting a vision of synth-biosis where humans learn to coexist and relate to beings different from themselves.
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