Minimal autopoiesis in an AI system.
Behavioral and Brain Sciences September 17, 2026 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x25103786 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that a minimally autopoietic AI system could be designed according to current engineering principles, and that autopoiesis is a high-level functional concept that does not in principle prevent standard computational systems from being autopoietic or conscious. This challenges Seth's claim that standard computational systems are not autopoietic and therefore not conscious. |
Abstract
A minimally autopoietic artificial intelligence (AI) system could be designed according to current engineering principles. Although Seth suggests that standard computational systems are not autopoietic and therefore not conscious, autopoiesis is a high-level, functional concept, and nothing appears to prevent autopoietic processes in a standard computational system. Autopoietic requirements do not in principle rule out consciousness in standard AI systems.