Project: Biome
Competitive Cellular Automata
Pattern Learned!
While this simulation pits two Artificial Intelligences against one another to dominate a grid, the mechanics of Conway's "Game of Life" reveal profound truths about human existence and community dynamics.
In this simulation, a single cell, no matter how strong or strategically placed, dies instantly if it has no neighbors. It succumbs to "under-population." This mirrors our own reality: isolation is detrimental to survival. We are inherently social creatures who require connection, support, and community to thrive. A robust community isn't just a luxury; it is a prerequisite for existence.
Conversely, a cell with too many neighbors dies from "over-population." Resources become scarce, and the system collapses under its own weight. This teaches us about balance. While community is vital, healthy boundaries and personal space are equally necessary for an individual to sustain their own life and contribution to the group.
The "Butterfly Effect" is visible here in real-time. A single pixel placed by the AI—a seemingly insignificant dot—can trigger a chain reaction that spreads across the entire map, creating complex structures or wiping out established colonies. In life, our smallest actions (a kind word, a momentary lapse in judgment, a small daily habit) ripple outwards, affecting people we may never meet in ways we cannot predict.
In this variant, new cells are "born" based on the majority influence of their parents. We are shaped by those around us. The environment we cultivate determines the nature of the next generation. If we surround ourselves with positive, constructive influences, the future we build inherits those traits.