Digital Humanism and Evolutionary Design
2026-06-22 • Artificial Intelligence
Artificial IntelligenceComputers and Society
AI summaryⓘ
The authors explore two ideas: digital humanism, which focuses on keeping technology centered on human needs and values, and evolutionary design, which is about how technology changes and improves over time. They look at how these ideas overlap and differ, especially in decision-making and how humans and machines think. The paper points out that current software and AI development often focuses too much on market demands, which can limit open and flexible technology growth. The authors suggest that combining these two approaches could have benefits but also face challenges around autonomy and subjectivity.
Digital HumanismEvolutionary DesignArtificial IntelligenceTuring TestChinese RoomCo-evolutionary DevelopmentOpen MachineFunctional SpecializationSustainable Software DevelopmentGreen IT
Authors
Wolfgang Höhl
Abstract
This paper examines the two concepts of digital humanism and evolutionary design. The aim is to identify and highlight potential common structures, synergies, and challenges. How should and can technical systems be designed, and what implications does this have for the design of our environment? In light of the current debate surrounding artificial intelligence, this paper aims to serve as a preliminary study to help better understand the two concepts of digital humanism and evolutionary design within the context of human-centered technological development. Following a brief introduction, the two concepts of Digital Humanism and Evolutionary Design are presented and graphically visualized. The terms of freedom and responsibility in human decision-making, conviviality, and subjectivity are discussed, along with examples illustrating the distinction between human and artificial intelligence (Turing Test and Chinese Room). The various concepts of evolutionary design (e.g., co-evolutionary or sustainable software development, clean code, or green IT) and Gilbert Simondon's concept of the "open machine" are introduced. The interdependencies between functional specialization and open technology development are highlighted. Both concepts share similar structures. In joint cooperation, they can lead to positive effects and mutual synergies. Significant differences lie in the areas of autonomy and determination in decision-making, as well as in genuine and simulated subjectivity. Open technology development is also currently suffering from the functional specialization of software and AI applications due to a purely market- and consumer-oriented approach. Even optimizations for energy efficiency in sustainable software development lead to greater specialization and thus also have a detrimental effect on open and quality-oriented technology development.