Welcome to BSME2E
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edi… This paper addresses whether artificial intelligence could, as in the 2024 movie The Wild Robot, create evolutionary changes in animals. The question is how Generative AI, within the film, could conceivably lead to evolution in behavior, communication, or physical traits in animals with which it interacts largely and under specified conditions of integration into the environment. A qualitative approach was taken, using the film’s storyline to perform a detailed thematic analysis supported by a review of the scientific literature on relevant applications of Generative AI in animal behavior studies and evolutionary biology. The results presented show that although such a portrayal in this movie is fictional and speculative, real-world applications of Generative AI could have indirect effects on the evolutionary pathways of species through, for example, tracking animal movements, enhancing adaptive learning through Generative AI-guided training, and facilitating interspecies communication. For instance, habitat alteration and resource management enabled by generative AI can potentially impose selection pressure for gradual changes in the genetics or behavior of a species. Ecological uncertainty and ethical concerns remain a major issue. The research finds that generative AI has comparatively modest immediate potential to affect animal evolution but can have an immense influence on ecosystems and behavior, offering room for biodiversity control. The research is interested in how the convergence of multidisciplines can securely make the potential of generative AI in ecological and evolutionary use a reality.
