Safety framework for animate materials

Animate matter is a proposed class of materials exhibiting varying degrees of activity, adaptability, and autonomy. It has the potential to transform fields ranging from robotics and medicine to infrastructure and manufacturing. It could lead to the emergence of a kind of artificial intelligence which is different from the current AI based on digital computation running on silicon. The field currently lacks a dedicated safety framework. I propose to develop a foundational safety framework for animate matter by synthesizing lessons from functional safety in process industry, nuclear, aviation, railway, automotive, medical-device regulation, robotics and the emerging frontier AI safety. The goal is to help shape the field development toward beneficial outcomes by introducing safety considerations at an early stage.