French Literature Reviews - 2026
A. Ourednik, Robopoïèses
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
André Ourednik
Robopoïèses
La Baconnière
ISBN: 9782889600373
216 p.
14.00 CHF
OVERVIEW
Contemporary "artificial intelligence" as we understand it today focuses primarily on machine learning, whereby a program evolves and becomes capable of making increasingly "correct" decisions relative to a pre-defined goal. Such intelligence creates nothing; rather, it guides us within an established framework of thought that it ultimately helps to solidify.
This essay proposes an alternative narrative: that of an artificial intelligence that originates with the emergence of language—the symbolic system that mediates our relationship with the uncontrollable, the unnamable, the elusive—in other words, our relationship with nature. From the legal tablets of the city of Ur and the meganumbers of Vedic texts to automata and Conway's Game of Life, this is the story of the growing autonomy of cognitive artifacts, leading up to the potential emergence of a truly creative artificial intelligence.
What will the role of humans be in relation to their own creations? Can we envision an artificial intelligence that reconnects with nature? What would the consequences be? And how might such an intelligence assist us in our interactions with our environment?
André Ourednik is a researcher, writer, and lecturer at EPFL and the University of Neuchâtel. With a background in geography, philosophy, and mathematical methods for the humanities, he holds a PhD in the digital modeling of inhabited space and has authored numerous articles in academic journals. For a decade, he has taught courses on the concept of nature to interdisciplinary student audiences at polytechnic institutes and also works as a data scientist for the Swiss Confederation. His publications include the hypertext Wikitractatus (book, Hélice Hélas, 2014, and digital creation), Omniscience, a metaphysical satire of data-driven civilization (novel, La Baconnière, 2017), and the essay Hypertopie (La Baconnière, 2019).
In Robopoïèses, André Ourednik situates the discussion of artificial intelligence within the broader history of technology, philosophy, and linguistics. By moving beyond contemporary machine learning, which often merely reinforces existing frameworks, Ourednik traces a longer lineage of cognitive tools. He examines how symbolic systems—from ancient legal tablets and Vedic mathematics to Conway's Game of Life—have historically mediated the human relationship with the natural world. This philosophical approach reframes AI not as a sudden modern disruption, but as the continuation of an ancient human endeavor to model and interact with the elusive aspects of our environment.
Drawing on his interdisciplinary background in geography, philosophy, and digital modeling, Ourednik addresses crucial questions about the future of human-machine coexistence. The essay prompts readers to consider whether we can develop a truly creative artificial intelligence that assists us in ecological stewardship rather than mere data optimization. This work will appeal to readers interested in the philosophy of science, digital humanities, and environmental studies, as well as those seeking a deeper, historical perspective on how technological artifacts shape our understanding of nature and our place within it.