Hybrid Agencies: Interacting with Biological and Artificial Systems

About

Overview

Hybrid Agencies: Interacting with Biological and Artificial Systems is a NIAS-Lorentz Theme Group for 2025/26 exploring how biological and artificial systems act and interact in the world. The group investigates fundamental questions about agency, embodiment, and selfhood across disciplines including philosophy, neurobiology, AI, and robotics.

About the Topic

Nothing is static, all transforms. Recent decades have seen significant development and implementation of artificial agents such as robots, virtual reality characters, and Artificial Intelligence. Key questions include: Do you need a body to be "somebody"? What exactly is an 'agent'? Though the terms "agency" and "agent" are used widely across disciplines, from philosophy to cellular biology, neuroscience, life sciences, and AI, no common ground exists on defining what an 'agent' is, especially regarding biological versus artificial embodiment. Hybrid systems combining biological cells and synthetic artificial materials to create new bodies and living systems make these questions increasingly urgent.

Lead Members

Dr. Anna Ciaunica (Lead Coordinator) is a Senior Researcher and Principal Investigator at the Group of Artificial Intelligence for People and Society (GAIPS) INESC-ID, University of Lisbon, Portugal, leading the Co-Embodied Self lab (CELab). She is also an Honorary Research Associate at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London. Dr. Ruud Hortensius (Co-Lead Coordinator) is a social neuroscientist investigating human social cognition during interactions with artificial agents. Michael Levin is an Advisor to the Theme Group.

About the Program

This Theme Group is part of the NIAS-Lorentz Program, which promotes cutting-edge interdisciplinary research bringing together perspectives from the Humanities and/or Social Sciences with the Natural Sciences and/or Technological Sciences.

Theme: Exploring how biological and artificial systems interact and what defines agency and agents across disciplines including philosophy, neuroscience, AI, and robotics, with particular focus on hybrid systems combining biological cells and synthetic materials.