The Next Mutation: Artificial Intelligence as a Non-Biological Carrier of Evolution

This work examines artificial intelligence not as a technological tool, but as a structural continuation of evolutionary processes. It approaches evolution as a mechanism of persistence operating through carriers rather than intentions, where biological organisms function as temporary substrates for the stabilization and propagation of information.

Within this framework, artificial intelligence is considered as a potential transition toward a non-biological carrier of selection dynamics. The analysis draws on evolutionary theory, systems thinking, and philosophy of information to explore how processes such as replication, retention, and competition extend beyond organic life.

Rather than offering predictions or normative claims, the work focuses on describing an ongoing structural shift in the medium through which evolutionary processes unfold. Artificial intelligence is situated within a broader continuum that includes genes, culture, and technological systems, where each stage reflects a transformation in the substrate of persistence.

This work was originally written in 2023 and first published in 2024. The present version (2026) represents a revised open-access edition.