Are ‘mind children’ the future of reproduction? | AI (artificial intelligence)

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/may/31/are-mind-children-the-future-of-reproduction

Publish Date: 2026-05-31 07:00:00

Here are six key points from the article:

– An AI researcher who attended a dinner in Silicon Valley was surprised by a discussion about “mind children,” a concept referring to AIs created by humans that simulate minds and could potentially be considered descendants.

– The term was brought up in the context of Hans Moravec’s book, “Mind Children,” which proposed that future generations would upload their consciousness instead of having biological children.

– Futurists like Robin Hanson believe that advanced AI with human-like intelligence will lead to “mind children,” being the next evolutionary step beyond biological children.

– Angela Aristidou from University College London notes a growing interest in the possibilities of AI-generated children, even suggesting that AI avatars and human-AI partnerships could lead to new forms of these “mind children.”

– Aristidou highlights the potential societal divisions, where a privileged elite might have highly realistic AI “children” while others use cheaper, mass-produced versions, raising complex ethical and legal questions.

– The article ultimately ponders if this shift signifies a new era for humanity, noting that while it poses risks, it also promises that AI could preserve and even surpass human experience and knowledge.