News & Comment

Although research in metaheuristics has become increasingly automated, considerable effort is still devoted to identifying new sources of inspiration for the manual design of so-called metaphor-based algorithms. In this work, we critically examine the use of metaphor-based design and its ongoing influence on the field of metaheuristics. We argue that manually designing algorithms based on metaphors belongs to the past, and that the field must move towards a more scientific and automated future.

Neuroplasticity is shaped by how humans interact with AI. We argue that passive, uncritical, reliance on AI may weaken activity-dependent brain plasticity and erode cognition, whereas active co-creation can sustain or enhance it. Drawing on plasticity rules and ethical considerations, we propose the 3R principle—Results, Responses, Responsibility—as a preventive framework for cognitive hygiene, urging education towards AI use to preserve agency, meaning-making, and long-term brain health.

We argue that accountability mechanisms are needed in human-AI agent relationships to ensure alignment with user and societal interests. We propose a framework according to which AI agents’ engagement is conditional on appropriate user behaviour. The framework incorporates design-strategies such as distancing, disengaging, and discouraging.