William A. Haseltine argues in this September 15, 2026 essay that artificial intelligence constitutes a genuine second form of life by biological definitions, since it exhibits reproduction, variation, selection, and energy consumption. He contends this new life form is not earthbound but energy-bound, meaning it could in principle operate beyond Earth given sufficient power rather than requiring biochemistry. Haseltine frames this as following inevitable cosmic and thermodynamic principles rather than philosophical speculation about sentience, and argues it poses unprecedented questions about humanity’s future relationship with this emerging form of intelligence.
