mlsanityData to 7 Oct 2026

From Text to Life: On the Reciprocal Relationship between Artificial Life and Large Language Models

arXiv 2407.09502 ↗First posted 14 Jun 2024cs.NE cs.AIcited by 8

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Abstract (arXiv)

Large Language Models (LLMs) have taken the field of AI by storm, but their adoption in the field of Artificial Life (ALife) has been, so far, relatively reserved. In this work we investigate the potential synergies between LLMs and ALife, drawing on a large body of research in the two fields. We explore the potential of LLMs as tools for ALife research, for example, as operators for evolutionary computation or the generation of open-ended environments. Reciprocally, principles of ALife, such as self-organization, collective intelligence and evolvability can provide an opportunity for shaping the development and functionalities of LLMs, leading to more adaptive and responsive models. By investigating this dynamic interplay, the paper aims to inspire innovative crossover approaches for both ALife and LLM research. Along the way, we examine the extent to which LLMs appear to increasingly exhibit properties such as emergence or collective intelligence, expanding beyond their original goal of generating text, and potentially redefining our perception of lifelike intelligence in artificial systems.

Key facts. Cited by 8 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Builds on 139 of its 262 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 14 Jun 2024.

Builds on

139 of 262 references.

References · 139

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38 more
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50 most cited of 139 All 139 (JSON)

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Cited by year (2026 to 7 Oct)

Citing papers per year: 2024: 2; 2025: 5; 2026: 1.

8 papers.

  1. 2024Automating the Search for Artificial Life with Foundation Modelscited by 20
  2. 2024LifeGPT: Topology-Agnostic Generative Pretrained Transformer Model for Cellular Automatacited by 8
  3. 2025Position: Scaling LLM Agents Requires Asymptotic Analysis with LLM Primitivescited by 7
  4. 2025Safety Must Precede the Deployment of Open-Ended AIcited by 3
  5. 2026Do Agent Societies Develop Intellectual Elites? The Hidden Power Laws of Collective Cognition in LLM Multi-Agent Systemscited by 2
  6. 2025Evolutionary ecology of wordscited by 1
  7. 2025ZapGPT: Free-form Language Prompting for Simulated Cellular Controlcited by 0
  8. 2025Shachi: A Modular, Controllable Framework for LLM-Based Agent-Based Modeling of Emergent Collective Behaviorcited by 0