How Evolution can help us make better computers | Terence Soule | TEDxUIdaho

[Applause]

[Applause] visitation with association exercise so

visitation with association exercise so

visitation with association exercise so I have here two words of nature or you

I have here two words of nature or you

I have here two words of nature or you can think of it as biology and computers

can think of it as biology and computers

can think of it as biology and computers or you can think of it as technology if

or you can think of it as technology if

or you can think of it as technology if you want and I’m going to associate some

you want and I’m going to associate some

you want and I’m going to associate some images and some words with those terms

images and some words with those terms

images and some words with those terms so first we have a picture here lots of

so first we have a picture here lots of

so first we have a picture here lots of different creatures pretty clearly

different creatures pretty clearly

different creatures pretty clearly that’s an example of what we see in

that’s an example of what we see in

that’s an example of what we see in nature and this is a rack of computer

nature and this is a rack of computer

nature and this is a rack of computer servers so this is what we get for

servers so this is what we get for

servers so this is what we get for computer technology if we think about

computer technology if we think about

computer technology if we think about the word adapts that’s nature right

the word adapts that’s nature right

the word adapts that’s nature right nature is very adaptable fixed so

nature is very adaptable fixed so

nature is very adaptable fixed so computers once you have a piece of

computers once you have a piece of

computers once you have a piece of hardware it tends to be fixed right you

hardware it tends to be fixed right you

hardware it tends to be fixed right you see lots of variety nature imagine a

see lots of variety nature imagine a

see lots of variety nature imagine a forest of trees those trees may all be

forest of trees those trees may all be

forest of trees those trees may all be the same species but each one

the same species but each one

the same species but each one individually is different so even within

individually is different so even within

individually is different so even within the same sets of trees the same species

the same sets of trees the same species

the same sets of trees the same species we get lots of variety may contracts

we get lots of variety may contracts

we get lots of variety may contracts computers tend to be repetitive and

computers tend to be repetitive and

computers tend to be repetitive and identical so if you have a problem a

identical so if you have a problem a

identical so if you have a problem a task that you want done over and over

task that you want done over and over

task that you want done over and over and over again in exactly the same way

and over again in exactly the same way

and over again in exactly the same way you give it to a computer to do nature

you give it to a computer to do nature

you give it to a computer to do nature learns you can teach a dog even an old

learns you can teach a dog even an old

learns you can teach a dog even an old dog it turns out new tricks whereas

dog it turns out new tricks whereas

dog it turns out new tricks whereas computers it tend to repeat the same

computers it tend to repeat the same

computers it tend to repeat the same mistakes over and over and over again so

mistakes over and over and over again so

mistakes over and over and over again so why this dichotomy between what we see

why this dichotomy between what we see

why this dichotomy between what we see in nature and biology person who we see

in nature and biology person who we see

in nature and biology person who we see with computers and technology well a big

with computers and technology well a big

with computers and technology well a big part of the reason for that difference

part of the reason for that difference

part of the reason for that difference is that things in nature evolved and

is that things in nature evolved and

is that things in nature evolved and computers are programmed and so this

computers are programmed and so this

computers are programmed and so this raises an interesting question which is

raises an interesting question which is

raises an interesting question which is what if we could sort of break that rule

what if we could sort of break that rule

what if we could sort of break that rule and allow computers

and allow computers

and allow computers all seems like sort of a strange

all seems like sort of a strange

all seems like sort of a strange question and to address it we have to

question and to address it we have to

question and to address it we have to think a little bit about but what really

think a little bit about but what really

think a little bit about but what really is an evolution and we can think of

is an evolution and we can think of

is an evolution and we can think of evolution as a process with four major

evolution as a process with four major

evolution as a process with four major components so the first component is a

components so the first component is a

components so the first component is a population imagine if you will a

population imagine if you will a

population imagine if you will a population of rabbits and within that

population of rabbits and within that

population of rabbits and within that population of rabbits we have lots of

population of rabbits we have lots of

population of rabbits we have lots of variation so there are faster rabbits

variation so there are faster rabbits

variation so there are faster rabbits and slower rabbits there are rabbits

and slower rabbits there are rabbits

and slower rabbits there are rabbits that are more camouflaged and blend and

that are more camouflaged and blend and

that are more camouflaged and blend and better because of their colors and

better because of their colors and

better because of their colors and rabbits that stand out more so we have

rabbits that stand out more so we have

rabbits that stand out more so we have variation and then based on that

variation and then based on that

variation and then based on that variation we have selection the classic

variation we have selection the classic

variation we have selection the classic sort of survival of the fittest

sort of survival of the fittest

sort of survival of the fittest the faster rabbits are better at

the faster rabbits are better at

the faster rabbits are better at escaping the foxes and what that leads

escaping the foxes and what that leads

escaping the foxes and what that leads to then because they can survive is

to then because they can survive is

to then because they can survive is inheritance so those rabbits they escape

inheritance so those rabbits they escape

inheritance so those rabbits they escape the foxes either by being faster or

the foxes either by being faster or

the foxes either by being faster or being more camouflaged get to reproduce

being more camouflaged get to reproduce

being more camouflaged get to reproduce and pass their genes on to their

and pass their genes on to their

and pass their genes on to their offspring so these four components are

offspring so these four components are

offspring so these four components are what makes up the process of evolution

what makes up the process of evolution

what makes up the process of evolution and the question becomes can we apply

and the question becomes can we apply

and the question becomes can we apply these to computers and computer

these to computers and computer

these to computers and computer technology and I want to begin with an

technology and I want to begin with an

technology and I want to begin with an example that I suspect everybody is

example that I suspect everybody is

example that I suspect everybody is pretty familiar with which is video

pretty familiar with which is video

pretty familiar with which is video games and you may be thinking wait video

games and you may be thinking wait video

games and you may be thinking wait video games live video games well in order to

games live video games well in order to

games live video games well in order to answer that question we have to sort of

answer that question we have to sort of

answer that question we have to sort of use an example of a video game so this

use an example of a video game so this

use an example of a video game so this is a video game called Darwin’s demons

is a video game called Darwin’s demons

is a video game called Darwin’s demons and you can see it’s sort of a classic

and you can see it’s sort of a classic

and you can see it’s sort of a classic shooter type arcade game right we’ve got

shooter type arcade game right we’ve got

shooter type arcade game right we’ve got a whole bunch of aliens and the player

a whole bunch of aliens and the player

a whole bunch of aliens and the player is flying a ship and shooting at them

is flying a ship and shooting at them

is flying a ship and shooting at them and so how does this relate to evolution

and so how does this relate to evolution

and so how does this relate to evolution well if we think of those four

well if we think of those four

well if we think of those four components we have a population here we

components we have a population here we

components we have a population here we have a population of opponents of aliens

have a population of opponents of aliens

have a population of opponents of aliens and within that population you can see

and within that population you can see

and within that population you can see there’s already a lot of variation some

there’s already a lot of variation some

there’s already a lot of variation some of them look a little bit different they

of them look a little bit different they

of them look a little bit different they move differently so their behavior is

move differently so their behavior is

move differently so their behavior is different they may shoot more rapidly or

different they may shoot more rapidly or

different they may shoot more rapidly or shoot slow

shoot slow

shoot slow or they may charge the player or hang

or they may charge the player or hang

or they may charge the player or hang out in the corners and this is pretty

out in the corners and this is pretty

out in the corners and this is pretty true of all video games right you rarely

true of all video games right you rarely

true of all video games right you rarely in this kind of video game do you have

in this kind of video game do you have

in this kind of video game do you have to face the same opponent over and over

to face the same opponent over and over

to face the same opponent over and over again I would get boring so instead we

again I would get boring so instead we

again I would get boring so instead we put in variation and so in terms of the

put in variation and so in terms of the

put in variation and so in terms of the components of evolution we already have

components of evolution we already have

components of evolution we already have two of them a population and variation

two of them a population and variation

two of them a population and variation and then the third one was selection so

and then the third one was selection so

and then the third one was selection so you might ask well is selection taking

you might ask well is selection taking

you might ask well is selection taking place here and if so where and the

place here and if so where and the

place here and if so where and the answer is yes that’s the players job

answer is yes that’s the players job

answer is yes that’s the players job right there shooting at the aliens

right there shooting at the aliens

right there shooting at the aliens they’re doing the selection and we can

they’re doing the selection and we can

they’re doing the selection and we can go a little further and say we’re gonna

go a little further and say we’re gonna

go a little further and say we’re gonna in terms of fitness say aliens that

in terms of fitness say aliens that

in terms of fitness say aliens that survive longer or shoot more or charge

survive longer or shoot more or charge

survive longer or shoot more or charge the bottom of the screen get better

the bottom of the screen get better

the bottom of the screen get better fitness so we have already three of the

fitness so we have already three of the

fitness so we have already three of the four components we need for evolution we

four components we need for evolution we

four components we need for evolution we have our population we have variation we

have our population we have variation we

have our population we have variation we have selection what we’re missing is

have selection what we’re missing is

have selection what we’re missing is inheritance so here’s two of our

inheritance so here’s two of our

inheritance so here’s two of our opponents two of our aliens from the

opponents two of our aliens from the

opponents two of our aliens from the game and you can see they have variation

game and you can see they have variation

game and you can see they have variation so they look different their eyes are

so they look different their eyes are

so they look different their eyes are different color they have a different

different color they have a different

different color they have a different shape if we were to put them back into

shape if we were to put them back into

shape if we were to put them back into the game we could see that they behaved

the game we could see that they behaved

the game we could see that they behaved differently maybe they move differently

differently maybe they move differently

differently maybe they move differently or they shoot at different rates or

or they shoot at different rates or

or they shoot at different rates or different types of bullets so we have

different types of bullets so we have

different types of bullets so we have all of that variation well it turns out

all of that variation well it turns out

all of that variation well it turns out of course because they’re

of course because they’re

of course because they’re computer-generated aliens all of those

computer-generated aliens all of those

computer-generated aliens all of those things are really just controlled by

things are really just controlled by

things are really just controlled by their code which is a bunch of numbers

their code which is a bunch of numbers

their code which is a bunch of numbers and so we can think of the numbers that

and so we can think of the numbers that

and so we can think of the numbers that define how they look and how they behave

define how they look and how they behave

define how they look and how they behave as their digital DNA and so now that

as their digital DNA and so now that

as their digital DNA and so now that we’ve said the way these creatures these

we’ve said the way these creatures these

we’ve said the way these creatures these aliens these opponents in our video game

aliens these opponents in our video game

aliens these opponents in our video game look and behave is based on this digital

look and behave is based on this digital

look and behave is based on this digital DNA now we can put in inheritance we can

DNA now we can put in inheritance we can

DNA now we can put in inheritance we can say okay the aliens that last the

say okay the aliens that last the

say okay the aliens that last the longest or shoot the best are the ones

longest or shoot the best are the ones

longest or shoot the best are the ones that get to reproduce and they get to

that get to reproduce and they get to

that get to reproduce and they get to take their digital

take their digital

take their digital DNA and combine it and pass it on to

DNA and combine it and pass it on to

DNA and combine it and pass it on to create a new alien and we can even if we

create a new alien and we can even if we

create a new alien and we can even if we want throw in mutation and put in some

want throw in mutation and put in some

want throw in mutation and put in some random variation as well and so now we

random variation as well and so now we

random variation as well and so now we have all of the components of evolution

have all of the components of evolution

have all of the components of evolution put in to in this case a video game so

put in to in this case a video game so

put in to in this case a video game so what happens when you do this well you

what happens when you do this well you

what happens when you do this well you end up with a video game that starts by

end up with a video game that starts by

end up with a video game that starts by looking like this

looking like this

looking like this and after you’ve played it for a while

and after you’ve played it for a while

and after you’ve played it for a while it looks like this and you can see the

it looks like this and you can see the

it looks like this and you can see the aliens have evolved issue faster there’s

aliens have evolved issue faster there’s

aliens have evolved issue faster there’s all sorts of different patterns

all sorts of different patterns

all sorts of different patterns different strategies that they’ve

different strategies that they’ve

different strategies that they’ve adopted and this isn’t limited to just

adopted and this isn’t limited to just

adopted and this isn’t limited to just sort of our simple arcade style game and

sort of our simple arcade style game and

sort of our simple arcade style game and simple creatures we can have much more

simple creatures we can have much more

simple creatures we can have much more complicated creatures in our games so

complicated creatures in our games so

complicated creatures in our games so here’s an example of a 3d monster that

here’s an example of a 3d monster that

here’s an example of a 3d monster that we could put into a game and you’ll

we could put into a game and you’ll

we could put into a game and you’ll notice that it’s changing it has a

notice that it’s changing it has a

notice that it’s changing it has a digital DNA that controls things like

digital DNA that controls things like

digital DNA that controls things like how long its legs are or what color it

how long its legs are or what color it

how long its legs are or what color it is

is

is or how long it’s tail or its tentacles

or how long it’s tail or its tentacles

or how long it’s tail or its tentacles are and this is again all controlled by

are and this is again all controlled by

are and this is again all controlled by a series of numbers it’s digital DNA and

a series of numbers it’s digital DNA and

a series of numbers it’s digital DNA and in this case we’re sort of showing

in this case we’re sort of showing

in this case we’re sort of showing random mutations so you can see the

random mutations so you can see the

random mutations so you can see the variety that can come from it nor is

variety that can come from it nor is

variety that can come from it nor is this idea limited to just video games so

this idea limited to just video games so

this idea limited to just video games so nASA has used these same sorts of

nASA has used these same sorts of

nASA has used these same sorts of evolutionary techniques to actually

evolutionary techniques to actually

evolutionary techniques to actually evolve antennas that they use on

evolve antennas that they use on

evolve antennas that they use on satellites and the idea there is you

satellites and the idea there is you

satellites and the idea there is you have a population of satellite designs

have a population of satellite designs

have a population of satellite designs and each excuse me a population of

and each excuse me a population of

and each excuse me a population of antenna designs and each antenna gets a

antenna designs and each antenna gets a

antenna designs and each antenna gets a Fitness based on how well it does its

Fitness based on how well it does its

Fitness based on how well it does its task there are companies that choose

task there are companies that choose

task there are companies that choose stock portfolios and mutual fund mixes

stock portfolios and mutual fund mixes

stock portfolios and mutual fund mixes using an evolutionary technique in which

using an evolutionary technique in which

using an evolutionary technique in which Fitness is based on the risk and the

Fitness is based on the risk and the

Fitness is based on the risk and the reward for that particular combination

reward for that particular combination

reward for that particular combination of stocks their researchers were

of stocks their researchers were

of stocks their researchers were applying evolutionary techniques to

applying evolutionary techniques to

applying evolutionary techniques to music and so the digital DNA for music

music and so the digital DNA for music

music and so the digital DNA for music is basically the musical score and the

is basically the musical score and the

is basically the musical score and the fit

fit

fit is how good that piece of music sounds

is how good that piece of music sounds

is how good that piece of music sounds and the better pieces of music gets

and the better pieces of music gets

and the better pieces of music gets selected and get to mix their digital

selected and get to mix their digital

selected and get to mix their digital DNA to create new pieces of music can

DNA to create new pieces of music can

DNA to create new pieces of music can also be applied to things like robot

also be applied to things like robot

also be applied to things like robot design and robot behaviors so just like

design and robot behaviors so just like

design and robot behaviors so just like we can see the virtual creatures in our

we can see the virtual creatures in our

we can see the virtual creatures in our games change we can actually see

games change we can actually see

games change we can actually see physical robots change and many more

physical robots change and many more

physical robots change and many more applications of this idea of evolution

applications of this idea of evolution

applications of this idea of evolution and so we might ask what can we expect

and so we might ask what can we expect

and so we might ask what can we expect in the future and one possibility that

in the future and one possibility that

in the future and one possibility that we should be thinking about is that we

we should be thinking about is that we

we should be thinking about is that we have computers that can adapt and learn

have computers that can adapt and learn

have computers that can adapt and learn and most of all evolve

and most of all evolve

and most of all evolve thank you