SB-AI: How the synthetic biology paradigm is impacting AL and AI research

A novel scenario is emerging from synthetic biology advancements of the last fifteen years, namely, a well-defined multidisciplinary sci-tech arena focused on the construction of biological-like systems, and in particular microscopic cell-like systems. The challenge of assembling a minimal cell from its separated parts is generally considered one of the most important Holy Grail of biology, but an accurate analysis, based on the theory of autopoiesis and its implications, discloses a fecund field from which artificial life and artificial intelligence might benefit and profit for a perspective change. Here we comment some recent trends and experimental results in synthetic biology, explaining in general terms how these can impact artificial life and artificial intelligence research, in particular with respect to embodied cognition.