AI Tools for Biomimicry and How to Use Them

Written by Alistair Daynes & AI

Hello nature enthusiasts and curious minds!

Jess (the cofounder of Learn Biomimicry) and I (Alistair) recently had the pleasure of hosting a deep dive into the brilliant world of biomimicry and artificial intelligence (AI). 

Jess presented a live workshop called Wild Intelligence: Applying Biomimicry with AI.

Watch the recording below: 

Her presentation opened all of our eyes to the untapped potentials and challenges at this fascinating intersection, and I wanted to share these insights with you.

Whether you’re a seasoned biomimicry practitioner or just starting to explore, there are some really exciting opportunities in the world of AI that could benefit you. 

What is AI Really About? 

Jess kicked off by demystifying AI in the simplest terms: AI is essentially just computers doing the kind of thinking that humans either can't or don't want to do ourselves. These digital "thinking tools" have a variety of talents — from chatting and understanding language, to crunching big data sets, to generating visuals.

But here’s the critical bit: most people are only scratching the surface with AI’s capabilities. There is a vast potential for how it can enhance innovation and biomimicry application.

Why Biomimicry Needs AI

Jess shared two major gaps we constantly face in the Biomimicry Movement:

1. The Science to Innovation Gap: Much of scientific research remains stuck in "ivory towers," inaccessible to many innovators who could benefit from it.
   
2. The Innovation to Market Gap (the "Valley of Death"): Many innovations never make it to the market due to high R&D costs, long timelines, and communication challenges.
   

AI can help bridge these gaps by:

• Decoding nature’s complex designs and chemistry, allowing us to replicate life-friendly, resilient systems.
  
• Rapidly modeling, testing, and optimizing products before they are even manufactured.
  
• Enhancing marketing and sales effectiveness, helping innovations reach the right audience.   

Let's look at some of the tools that can help us achieve this below. 

Here are the Best AI Tools for Biomimicry

There are some truly incredible AI-driven platforms already making waves in this space. Here are a few favorites shared by Jess and the Learn Biomimicry community:

• Asteria — An all-in-one platform supporting everything from research to ideation to market launch, with integrated sustainability metrics and a wide database of biological strategies. Discover Asteria
• NuLuca — A rich platform offering system mapping, detailed parameter prompts, and integrations with tools like Rhino Grasshopper. It even has built-in learning resources to guide users. Explore NuLuca
• AskNature Chat — A chatbot interface trained on 20 years of AskNature’s biomimicry activity, great at handling metaphorical and abstract inquiries with results drawing from diverse sources. Chat with AskNature
• Materiom — A database focused on bio-based materials and recipes, perfect for those diving into molecular design with strong community support. Check Out Materiom
• BioDesign Academy — An educational resource diving deep into bio design blockers and providing extensive tools and explanations for practitioners. Visit BioDesign Academy

What are the Costs of Using AI?

AI is amazing, but it’s not without its downsides. Jess emphasized two main categories when it comes to the disadvantages:

• Visible Costs: High energy consumption, freshwater use for cooling servers, material waste from discarded electronics. The environmental footprint is real and demands responsible use.
  
• Hidden Costs: AI outputs are only as good as the inputs and questions asked. It can perpetuate biases, provide inaccurate info, and it still requires critical thinking and domain knowledge to be interpreted well.
  

This means we should approach AI as a powerful tool, but one that must be wielded thoughtfully — focusing on asking good questions, verifying information, and keeping our human creativity and judgment front and center.

Tips for Using AI Effectively in Biomimicry

Here are some golden nuggets from Jess’s advice that you can start applying when you next use AI:

1. Be Clear About What You Need to Know — Define your problem and decisions clearly before interacting with AI. Frameworks like the “Known and Unknown Matrix” (Rumsfeld Matrix) can help prioritize efforts.
   
2. Ask the AI Itself For Advice on Using It — Chat models can help you craft better questions or prompts, enhancing your experience.
   
3. Encourage Critical Reflexivity — Ask AI to critique its own answers or role-play as experts to uncover blind spots or missing info.
   
4. Leverage Multiple Models — Different AI systems have their own strengths and weaknesses; combine various platforms for diverse insights.
   
5. Stay Connected to the Real World — Remember that AI is limited by its data. Get out and explore non-digital resouces, test ideas, and engage with humans for mentorship and validation. 

Jess invited us to see AI not as artificial intelligence replacing us but as augmented intelligence amplifying human capabilities. Our imagination, curiosity, empathy, and desire to create positive impact remain uniquely human. AI can't redesign the future alone (yet)... it’s up to us to steer it toward a future where all life can thrive.

Where to Start Your Own Journey

If you’re eager to take the plunge into biomimicry and AI, here are some next steps Jess recommended:

• If you're starting out on your biomimicry journey, this free eBook, A Field Guide to Biomimicry is the perfect jumping off point. 
• Once you're ready for more, you can dive into these online Biomimicry Short Courses (or do a free trial first).
• For those who are keen to advance their career through biomimicry and actively apply it to their jobs, the comprehensive Biomimicry Practitioner Programme is the place to go. The expert mentors will guide you through incorporating AI into your project. Cohorts kick off every three months. 
  
• Explore the AI platforms mentioned above and experiment with how they can help your projects.
• Interested in further reading? Check out this article: Biology, AI and Learning the Language of Life through Evo2  

Summary

It’s truly inspiring to be part of a community that’s focused on learning from nature to innovate responsibly with tools like AI. We’re standing at a remarkable crossroads where technology and natural wisdom can come together to tackle some of our planet’s most pressing challenges.

As Jess beautifully put it, “The beauty of biomimicry is in shaking up the status quo, imagining, designing, and building a world where all life can thrive.”

Let’s keep walking this journey together — one thoughtful step at a time.

Wild regards
Alistair, Biomimicry Practitioner