Hugo de Garis (born 24 August 1947 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian computer scientist, retired artificial intelligence researcher, futurologist, and proponent of transhumanism known for his work in the subfield of evolvable hardware.^[28,29] Initially, de Garis studied theoretical physics before shifting his focus to artificial intelligence, and in 1992, he earned a doctoral degree from the Université Libre de Bruxelles. He worked as a researcher at ATR (Telecommunications Research institute international) in Japan from 1994 to 2000, at Startlab in Brussels from 2000 to 2001, and as an associate professor of computer science at Utah State University from 2001 to 2006. Prior to retiring at the end of 2010, he served as a professor at Xiamen University, where he taught theoretical physics and computer science and directed the Artificial Brain Lab.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, de Garis gained prominence through his research on the application of genetic algorithms to evolve artificial neural networks using three-dimensional cellular automata within field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).^[20] He claimed that this approach would enable the creation of an artificial brain that would quickly surpass and be many times superior to human intelligence.

De Garis stated that a major confrontation between supporters and opponents of intelligent machines is almost inevitable by the end of the 21st century, expressing his views on the subject in his book, The Artilect War: Cosmists vs. Terrans: A Bitter Controversy Concerning Whether Humanity Should Build Godlike Massively Intelligent Machines. He warned that this conflict could result in billions of deaths and the potential extinction of humanity, suggesting that intelligent machines may eliminate the human race while humans remain powerless to stop them due to the technological singularity.^[2] These predictions sparked discussion and criticism within the AI research community, prompting notable figures such as Kevin Warwick, Bill Joy, Ken MacLeod, Raymond Kurzweil, and Hans Moravec to express their views on the matter.

De Garis originally studied theoretical physics before abandoning the field in favor of artificial intelligence.^[1,2,9] He became known in 1990 for his research on genetic algorithms, which were intended to evolve neural networks based on three-dimensional cellular automata inside programmable FPGA chips. In 1992, he received his PhD from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (Free University of Brussels) in Belgium. From 1993 (running from February 1993 to January 2000 according to German Wikipedia)—though Japanese Wikipedia dates his participation from 1994—to 2000, de Garis conducted research at the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) Human Information Processing Research Laboratories (ATR-HIP) in Kansai Science City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, where he headed the Brain Builder Group in the Evolutionary Systems Department. During this 8-year research project, he aimed to build a one-billion-neuron artificial brain by 2001 capable of simulating a cat's brain, which he called a "cellular automata machine brain" (CAM-brain) and researched through evolving robots under the "Robo-Kitten Project." De Garis predicted that CAM-brains could scale indefinitely to create asteroid-sized computers, but he also warned that superhuman machine intelligence could trigger a technological singularity and potentially eliminate humanity.^[3,1,21] After receiving an initial grant of $4 million and an additional $1 million, the project was deemed premature and unsuccessful; when de Garis refused to deliver a working device, further funding was withheld and the project was closed.

De Garis relocated to Starlab in Brussels in 2000 according to several accounts, though Polish Wikipedia states he moved in 2001; the ATR-HIP laboratory officially closed on February 28, 2001.^[4] At Starlab, he received $1 million from the Belgian government—representing over a third of Belgium's total scientific research budget according to de Garis—before the institute went bankrupt in June 2001. He published his last CAM-brain research paper in 2002 and has co-authored several papers on evolutionary algorithms since that year.^[5] From September 2001 to 2006, de Garis worked in the Department of Computer Science at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, as an associate professor.^[9] Beginning in June 2006, he joined the advisory board of Novamente, a commercial company focused on creating artificial general intelligence.

After 2006 (beginning in May 2006 at Wuhan University's International School of Software), de Garis served as a professor at Wuhan University and Xiamen University, where he was also director of the Artificial Brain Lab and taught computer science, artificial intelligence, pure mathematics, and theoretical physics. In 2008, he received a grant of 3 million Chinese yuan (approximately $436,000 or 420,000 euros) to build an artificial brain as part of the Brain Builder Group at Wuhan University under the China Brain Project.^[6,15,22] De Garis, who also served on the editorial board of Engineering Letters, is convinced that topological quantum computing will revolutionize computer science and aimed to convey its principles to his students.^[7,14] He retired in late 2010.^[8,16] Following the rapid development of AI, he predicts that the singularity will arrive in the second half of the 21st century, at which point artificial intelligence will reach 10 to the 24th power (one trillion times one trillion) times human intelligence.^[27] In 2013, he undertook doctoral-level studies in mathematics and physics, announcing plans to produce 500 free lecture videos for graduate students over 20 years in his web series "degarisMPC", of which two videos are available as of January 2026.^[17]

De Garis published his last work on "CAM-Brain" in 2002. He stated that he can create up to 50,000 artificial neural network modules using Celoxica FPGA for less than $3,000. Since 2002, he has co-authored several papers on evolutionary algorithms. In 2008, de Garis received a grant of 3 million yuan (about $436,000) to create an artificial brain in China (the China-Brain Project), as part of the Brain Builder Group at Wuhan University.

Prior to retiring, he directed the Artificial Brain Laboratory at Xiamen University in China. Hugo de Garis retired in 2010. He believes that topological quantum computers will soon revolutionize computer science and hopes to prepare his students well so that they can understand the principles of their operation. In 2013, he received a doctorate in mathematical and physical sciences. Over the next 20 years, he plans to publish a course of 500 free video lectures called "degarisMPC", some of which are already available.

During his work on CAM-Brain, de Garis began publicly expressing concerns about the existential risk posed by artificial intelligence and artificial general intelligence.^[1,2,9,20] In 1996, he predicted that within twenty years, the AI creation industry would become one of the leading sectors in the world alongside the oil, automotive, and construction industries. Discussing the future of "Artilects" in the August 1, 1999 issue of The New York Times Magazine, de Garis stated: "People cannot stand in the way of a higher form of evolution. These machines are like God. Creating them is human destiny." In 2005, he published the book The Artilect War: Cosmists vs. Terrans: A Bitter Controversy Concerning Whether Humanity Should Build Godlike Massively Intelligent Machines.^[10]

In his book, de Garis predicts that by the end of the 21st century, artificial superintelligences—which he calls "artificial intellects" or "artilects"—will intellectually surpass humans in every field and threaten to attain hegemony and world domination over the Earth. He foresees that irreconcilable ideological differences will lead to a major war before the end of the 21st century, resulting in billions of deaths.^[10,23,11] According to de Garis, humanity will divide into factions: the "Cosmists", who support the development and necessary research of artilects in the hope of solving humanity's greatest problems and who expect them to colonize the cosmos while leaving Earth and humanity behind to eventual extinction; and the "Terrans", who oppose and seek to prevent the creation of artilects out of fear that they will subjugate or eradicate humanity. He also predicts a third group, the "Cyborgs", who aim to modify their own human brains to become artilects themselves rather than fall into obsolescence or be replaced by artificial intelligence.^[13,20] Although de Garis presents arguments in favor of each side throughout his book, he concludes by identifying himself as a Cosmist.

Futurologist Raymond Kurzweil posited that if a conflict between the groups were to occur, "the vastly superior intelligence of the Artilect group would quickly defeat the Terrans".^[19] De Garis's scenario drew criticism from some AI researchers, such as Chris Malcolm, who characterized the concept as an "entertaining science fiction horror story that happens to have caught the attention of the popular media".^[18] Religious studies professor Robert M. Geraci described The Artilect War as a religious apocalyptic scenario.^[24] De Garis is considered a fringe yet important voice in the debate on the future of AI, acting more as a technology philosopher or futurist than a conventional scientist. His ideas serve as valuable thought experiments that challenge the boundaries of ethical and strategic thinking surrounding AI, which are intended to be read critically not as literal predictions, but rather as warnings and provocations designed to stimulate serious discussion about humanity's future path.

Hugo de Garis authored The Artilect War: Cosmists vs. Terrans: A Bitter Controversy Concerning Whether Humanity Should Build Godlike Massively Intelligent Machines, published by ETC Publications on 28 February 2005. He also wrote Multis and Monos : What the Multicultured Can Teach the Monocultured: Towards the Creation of a Global State, which was released by ETC Publications on 18 March 2010. In November 2010, World Scientific published his work Artificial Brains: An Evolved Neural Net Module Approach.

External links concerning Hugo de Garis (nm2433396) include notes from his presentation to the artificial general intelligence research institute, an article from a Utah local newspaper titled "Man vs. Machine", and an article by de Garis titled "Cosmism and brainbuilding." Featured media include "Building Gods", a rough cut of a documentary detailing the personal beliefs of Hugo de Garis and Kevin Warwick on the possibilities of artificial life, and "Human v 2.0", a BBC Horizon series programme featuring a discussion between Ray Kurzweil and Hugo de Garis. Additional links include a general interview and an interview with H+ Magazine. He is also categorized as a living Australian artificial intelligence researcher born in 1947.