Professors contribute to international research linking biomimicry, AI ethics and sustainability
In an era where artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly but raising deep ethical and environmental questions, two faculty members at 麻豆果冻传媒影音 (UA) are contributing to a bold new vision for the future of AI that is inspired by nature itself.
Dr. John Huss, professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy, and Dr. Peter H. Niewiarowski, professor of integrated bioscience in the Department of Biology, are co-authors of a newly published research paper proposing a biomimetic and ethically grounded framework for artificial intelligence. The article, titled Ethically Grounded Design Paradigm for AI: A Biomimetic Approach, was published in Sciforum and co-authored by Dr. Pawe艂 Polak and Dr. Roman Krzanowski of the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków, Poland.
The collaboration began in an Integrated Bioscience Ph.D. class at 麻豆果冻传媒影音, where doctoral students attended a lecture on artificial intelligence given by Polak and Krzanowski. Their presentation prompted further discussion among the four faculty, ultimately leading to a collaborative research project that bridges philosophy, biology, computer science and environmental ethics.
The paper revisits the biological roots of AI and argues for a reorientation of how artificial intelligence is designed and implemented. Drawing on the concept of biomimicry — the practice of learning from nature’s evolutionary innovations — the authors advocate for AI systems that are more energy-efficient, ethically responsible and ecologically embedded.
“Nature has been solving problems for 3.8 billion years,” said Niewiarowski. “From complex signaling in microbial colonies to the energy-saving structure of the human brain, biological systems offer templates for intelligence that are efficient and sustainable. These are models worth learning from.”
From natural intelligence to ethical machine learning
The research points out that many of today’s AI systems, particularly large language models and other high-powered platforms, consume enormous amounts of energy and computing resources. According to the authors, this trajectory is unsustainable and raises serious environmental concerns.
“Current AI systems prioritize scale and speed, but often overlook sustainability,” said Huss. “The human brain, by contrast, runs on the equivalent of a low-wattage light bulb, yet performs incredibly complex tasks. If we can better understand and emulate natural computation, we can potentially design AI that is just as capable but far more energy conscious.”
Beyond environmental impacts, the paper also delves into questions of ethics and human-AI interaction. The researchers argue that for AI to be genuinely beneficial, it must incorporate ethical principles such as empathy, cooperation, and humility — traits found in natural symbiotic systems.
We’re not just thinking about whether AI can do what humans do,” said Niewiarowski. “We’re thinking about how it should behave. Should it cooperate? Should it respect boundaries? Should it serve not just human needs, but ecological balance?”
The authors suggest that biomimicry can help address these challenges by serving as a guide for how AI might evolve in ways that are aligned with life on Earth. By examining mutualistic relationships in nature — such as symbiosis between species — the researchers propose models for “beneficial AI” that coexist with, rather than dominate, its human and environmental context.
“There’s a lot of talk about AI alignment with human values,” Huss added. “But we argue that alignment must go even further — to include alignment with ecological systems and planetary health.”
A framework for the future of AI
The paper’s interdisciplinary approach is emblematic of the strengths of the Integrated Bioscience Program at 麻豆果冻传媒影音, which brings together experts from across science, engineering and the humanities to tackle complex, real-world problems.
“At Akron, we’ve seen real innovation come out of this program — inventions, patents and new ways of thinking,” said Niewiarowski. “Our students are already working on applying biomimicry to fields like materials science and robotics. Applying those same principles to AI is a natural next step.”
“AI doesn’t have to be something that replaces us,” Huss said. “It can be something that co-evolves with us — something that learns from nature, grows within limits, and contributes to the flourishing of all life.”
Polak, Krzanowski, Niewiarowski, and Huss were honored with a Best Oral Presentation Award on this paper at the in June 2025. Huss will also present the paper at the September at Warsaw University of Technology.
The full abstract can be accessed at: https://sciforum.net/paper/view/23219
For more information about the Integrated Bioscience Ph.D. program at 麻豆果冻传媒影音, visit uakron.edu/ib/.
Media contact: Cristine Boyd cbyd@uakron.edu, 330-972-6476