Santa fe institute

Oct 25, 2025

Why We Always Evolve Eyes

Professor Chris Kempes of the Santa Fe Institute proposes a universal theory of life that transcends Earth-based biochemistry. He introduces a three-level framework (Materials, Constraints, Principles) to explain how abstract rules like evolution could define life on any substrate, including culture, language, or artificial intelligence, leading to the concept of convergent evolution where similar solutions, like the eye, emerge independently across different physical forms.

Sep 04, 2025

The Day AI Solves My Puzzles Is The Day I Worry (Prof. Cristopher Moore)

Professor Cristopher Moore of the Santa Fe Institute discusses the surprising effectiveness of AI, arguing it stems from the rich, non-random structure of the real world. He explores the limits of current models, the nature of intelligence as creative problem-solving and abstraction, the importance of grounding and shared reality, and the profound implications of computational irreducibility and the need for algorithmic transparency in high-stakes applications.

Jul 28, 2025

Scale, Flow & Microservices • James Lewis • YOW! 2019

Drawing on research from complexity science, this presentation explores why organizations slow down as they grow and how architectural and organizational patterns, like those in microservices and at Amazon, can create superlinear scaling. It explains that by fostering networked structures over rigid hierarchies, companies can mimic the innovative and resilient properties of cities.