ArchaeaBot: A Post Singularity and Post Climate Change Life-form

Abstract

This extended abstract introduces "ArchaeaBot: A Post Singularity and Post Climate Change Life-form" an underwater biomimetic robotic artwork that explores what 'life' might mean in a post singularity, post climate change future, by artists Anna Dumitriu and Alex May. The project is based on new research about archaea (a group of unicellular micro-organisms believed to be the oldest form of life on earth adapted to life in extreme conditions) combined with robotics, 3D modelling and printing, artificial intelligence and machine learning. The artwork embodies a speculative future life-form which suggests what might be the 'ultimate' species for the end of the world. The robotic installation has become a means of reflection on both the development of new technologies and the impact of climate change for significant artistic audiences around the world.