TY - JOUR
T1 - Machine culture
AU - Brinkmann, Levin
AU - Baumann, Fabian
AU - Bonnefon, Jean François
AU - Derex, Maxime
AU - Müller, Thomas F.
AU - Nussberger, Anne Marie
AU - Czaplicka, Agnieszka
AU - Acerbi, Alberto
AU - Griffiths, Thomas L.
AU - Henrich, Joseph
AU - Leibo, Joel Z.
AU - McElreath, Richard
AU - Oudeyer, Pierre Yves
AU - Stray, Jonathan
AU - Rahwan, Iyad
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, Springer Nature Limited.
PY - 2023/11
Y1 - 2023/11
N2 - The ability of humans to create and disseminate culture is often credited as the single most important factor of our success as a species. In this Perspective, we explore the notion of ‘machine culture’, culture mediated or generated by machines. We argue that intelligent machines simultaneously transform the cultural evolutionary processes of variation, transmission and selection. Recommender algorithms are altering social learning dynamics. Chatbots are forming a new mode of cultural transmission, serving as cultural models. Furthermore, intelligent machines are evolving as contributors in generating cultural traits—from game strategies and visual art to scientific results. We provide a conceptual framework for studying the present and anticipated future impact of machines on cultural evolution, and present a research agenda for the study of machine culture.
AB - The ability of humans to create and disseminate culture is often credited as the single most important factor of our success as a species. In this Perspective, we explore the notion of ‘machine culture’, culture mediated or generated by machines. We argue that intelligent machines simultaneously transform the cultural evolutionary processes of variation, transmission and selection. Recommender algorithms are altering social learning dynamics. Chatbots are forming a new mode of cultural transmission, serving as cultural models. Furthermore, intelligent machines are evolving as contributors in generating cultural traits—from game strategies and visual art to scientific results. We provide a conceptual framework for studying the present and anticipated future impact of machines on cultural evolution, and present a research agenda for the study of machine culture.
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U2 - 10.1038/s41562-023-01742-2
DO - 10.1038/s41562-023-01742-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 37985914
AN - SCOPUS:85177094952
SN - 2397-3374
VL - 7
SP - 1855
EP - 1868
JO - Nature Human Behaviour
JF - Nature Human Behaviour
IS - 11
ER -