#54 Verghote: We should be thinking about life with Xenobots

In this episode of CEA Talk, we sit down with Simon Verghote, a philosopher and bioethicist at Université Libre de Bruxelles, whose research explores the ethical and ontological implications of xenobots living organisms designed by artificial intelligence and constructed from real biological tissue.Verghote’s work offers a rare window into how synthetic biology and evolutionary algorithms are not only transforming medicine and biotechnology, but also challenging the very foundations of what we define as “life.” From laboratory practices that embed ethical reflection at every stage, to speculative conversations about post-human futures and the spiritual dimensions of creation, this dialogue moves beyond science fiction into urgent philosophical territory.We ask: Where does life begin and design end? What kind of ethical frameworks are needed when working with entities that are both programmable and alive? And what does it mean for science, for society, and for humanity when we create life from scratch?This episode is a journey across disciplines, from experimental biolabs to ancient systems of interpretation, from bioethics to the future of intelligence. If you’re interested in the edge of life, technology, and meaning, this conversation is for you.Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.