Guide Note

Artificial Life, or Alife, is the study of complex systems of life through computer simulations, robotics, and biochemistry. Contrary to artificial intelligence, Alife employs the bottom-up research strategy, combining smaller systems to generate greater ones.

Fast Facts

1. Al Jazari's humanoid robot was an early specimen
2. Uses neural networks for simulations
3. A method of studying evolution¹
4. Hard Alife: Involves hardware-based simulation
5. Soft Alife: Involves software-based simulation
6. Wet Alife: Simulations based in biochemistry

Artificial life became a legitimate science with the appearance of the first computers. Jon Von Neumann was an early theorist who forwarded the idea of self-replicating machines based on Alan Turing's universal computer.² The next stage included the development of cellular automata, and some of the most recent applications involve computer animation.²

Artificial Life has long been on the margins of scientific research, mainly because of mistrust toward its methods and basic theory. However, the publication of articles on Alife in such journals as Nature and Science has established Artificial Life as a mainstream field of study.²