Figure 2.

Multi-scale living forms

The space of possible learning agents is astronomically large, because it is multi-dimensional: chimerism and hybridization with technology is possible on each level of organization of living systems. DNA, subcellular components, cells, tissues, organs, and whole organisms (alone or as part of hybrid swarms) – each level is itself a space of orthogonal possible options of evolved vs. designed, and passive vs. highly intelligent components. Choices made at one level can be combined with different choices of components at another level, providing an extremely vast option space for active systems that could exhibit learning (at any of its levels). Figure courtesy of Jeremy Guay of peregrine Creative.