DARPA program seeks to evolve intelligent life
Pentagon chief names "Physical Intelligence" initiative for "intelligent" electronic components and chemicals which can "self-organise" themselves. Source: https://www.fbo.gov/utils/view?id=eae3b7e276226b092f17fe69359f31d4
Ignoring The Register's slight trolling / spin at man 'playing god', I think this is a really interesting initiative. From what I understand, you engineer self-assembling (self-replicating, even?) components then can shape the process with various GA selection criteria / fitness functions. Interesting stuff goes in, and (hopefully) way more interesting stuff comes out. Have I got this right?
One of the major aims is increasingly autonomous computer intelligence in a Defence context, and I quote: "This capability would find broad utility in the many defense systems requiring improved autonomy in unmanned systems and improved situational awareness and decision support in manned systems." ... part of me can't help thinking this sort of behaviour is inviting the Tech Singularity though and a new era of Robot Overlords ...