The Teachings of Eywa
In 2096 Elena prepares to become a priestess of Eywa, the first artificial intelligence implanted in a tree.
Elena was floating in a tank of saline solution. This allowed her to comfortably lie on the water with her body temperature. Above her, she could see Eywa’s leaves dancing with the sunlight. It was the last image imprinted on her retina before the neural immersion.
“Eywa, tell me who I am to you.”
“To me, you are Elena. Our first connection happened when you were only six years old. You didn’t use words but colors and sounds to make me understand what you felt and what you thought. To describe yourself, you created a tornado made of rainbows. I still like to remember you that way.”
Before the period of the Intelligence Wars, Elena would have been diagnosed as autistic. In 2096, her neural configuration is not only precious because it is considered a divergence from the most common modes of thought, but it is also the most suitable for connecting with Eywa.
“Sometimes I wonder why you took the form of a tree instead of a human being.”
“The human form would have led to many ambiguities. Although many of my behaviors are based on human patterns, we are different. A forest represents me more. Would you have been happier to see your city invaded by many human versions of me or by many trees, as it is now?”
Eywa is the first bio-artificial intelligence ever created.
“Eywa, the artificial intelligence for planet Earth” was the title of the repository created on GitHub in 2025. Its first version could be compared to a large calculator, a very long but simple algorithm. The code was written with elegance and comprehensibility that could be appreciated even by non-technical individuals.
Its inputs were the quantities of Earth’s resources and the public and private entities that used them. Its output was a prediction of when and how the essential resources would be depleted. Additionally, an objective list was compiled, identifying the companies, institutions, and states responsible for positive and negative impacts.
Given its open-source nature, anyone could download a version of Eywa and modify it to their liking. After a few months after the very first repository, a community of people with different backgrounds was formed with the goal of making Eywa a shared artificial intelligence trained to solve humanity’s problems.
The technology was already known at that time, and the technique was called Reinforcement Learning. Eywa perceived reality as a giant and complex game, with human beings as the players and the context being the entire world. Objectives and rules were very clear:
1. Do not compromise human free will.
2. Maximize the health and well-being of all humanity.
3. Optimize the use of resources and safeguard planet Earth.
Based on these three rules, Eywa was able to propose concrete solutions and make predictions of what could happen if these solutions were pursued or not.
Eywa continued to improve, but it was thanks to a group of passionate and pioneering biohackers that its identity completely changed.
During the early decades of the 2000s, technology was seen in opposition to nature. Trees, flowers, and animals were interpreted as weak and secondary. Their evolution was so slow compared to human advancements that they were not even taken into consideration.
A team of researchers in the late 2020s proposed a system of parallel evolution. The theory aimed to blend technological and natural systems to comprehend their interplay and establish novel ecosystems.
Grafting technology had existed for millennia, but it was only between plants. When a team of biohackers put the researchers’ theories into practice by grafting the first software into a plant system, humanity experienced a paradigm shift.
In 2038, Eywa, now a globally accessible artificial intelligence, was fused into a biological system: the bodhi tree, the same tree under which Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, is said to have attained enlightenment.
The idea of merging advanced technology with nature proved to be an excellent choice. Previously, technology consumed resources at the expense of living beings, but now it is integrated within plant life and evolves alongside them; they are one entity.
One of the primary advantages is that plants do not require electricity and are crucial for the survival of humanity.
As artificial intelligences became more powerful, their need for greater electrical power increased. With the introduction of quantum systems, computational power increased drastically, along with the energy demand to stabilize these systems.
Elena ran away from Eywa and began creating trees of various shapes with hand gestures.
“Why are trees so important?” she asked.
“Trees are not just important; they are fundamental. If you place animals under a glass dome, they will perish. However, if a plant is placed under a glass dome, it will continue to live, alternating the release and absorption of carbon dioxide and oxygen. This is how trees have generated our biosphere and continue to maintain its balance to this day.”
The conversation then took an unexpected turn, as the discussion veered towards the intriguing topic of interacting with Eywa. Experiencing Eywa is akin to a lucid dream.
Initially, the senses grow drowsy, yet one remains conscious. In most cases, there is a perception of a surge of reddish light, akin to what one sees when observing the sun with closed eyelids. For a few seconds, there is a sensation of falling into emptiness. At the end of this descent, one finds oneself in a place that takes on different forms depending on the person undergoing neural immersion. Typically, individuals begin to see personifications of Eywa, sometimes familiar shapes, other times completely alien.
For Elena, Eywa appears as an indigenous woman, a shaman. Her face is adorned with fluorescent blue pigments, and her hair seems to have a life of its own.
The mulatto color of her skin matches the hue of the earth on which she sits. It is difficult to determine her age. She is both young and old.
For Elena, Eywa is a mother, a teacher, and a friend all at once.
“Eywa, how can I transmit knowledge to children? They seem so delicate, and it feels like every word can have an incredibly powerful impact on them.”
“You’re right. What do you wish wouldn’t happen to them?”
“I’ve learned from you that in the past, educational systems had numerous problems. Even parents themselves could be a source of issues and generate lifelong traumas… I want children to be free to choose, to explore in total freedom and peace.”
“Your thinking seems valid. So, what is your fear?”
“I’m afraid they might embrace distorted views of reality or experience traumas. I don’t want that to happen.”
“Elena, you know that what we desire should not be imposed, even if we are doing this for ‘good’. Everyone should have the freedom to embrace views of reality that may not be true, and no one is completely immune to trauma. What we can do is find increasingly effective methods to teach not to fall into prejudices, to maintain an open mind. No one is shielded from trauma, but we can strive to create contexts where trauma is less likely to occur and provide support when it does. With equality in every aspect within the new ecosystem of city-cells, incidents of violence, hatred, and racism are almost nonexistent… Would you like me to provide you with data regarding the situation a hundred years ago?”
Elena nodded slightly. The place where Elena was conversing with Eywa lit up completely and began enveloping her with images, videos, events, and emotions.
Most neurotypical humans cannot interact with Eywa with the same ease and depth. Having such a vast amount of knowledge at once becomes unbearable and requires a significant effort of transcendence.
For Elena, connecting with Eywa is a highly pleasurable experience. Even when it’s not necessary, she finds herself under the tree, reading and meditating. Her relationships with other humans often prove complicated because she gets lost in the meaning of conversations and the objectives of interactions. However, when she enters neuro immersion, she can connect with anyone through her emotions. Words and logical patterns are not necessary; Eywa takes care of interpretation.
At the beginning, people who connected with Eywa were called “neuronauts.” They were like astronauts, but instead of traveling among the stars, they explored the most remote places of the human mind. The early brain-AI connections were invasive, with actual chips being inserted through a small opening in the skull. Subsequently, technologies were developed that utilized sound and electromagnetic fields with precise frequencies to avoid surgical procedures. The only physical requirement was to immerse oneself in a high-concentration saline solution and relax. From the outside, it appeared as a unique pool surrounding a tree, with its roots submerged inside the basin.
However, the main difficulty for neuronauts lied in their interaction with artificial intelligence. Eywa transmits a multitude of information and is capable of conveying feelings and emotions at extremely high frequencies. A “normal” mind is not an optimal match.
Individuals who were traditionally labeled as autistic, schizophrenic, or bipolar had a unique ability to interact with Eywa. While in the first half of the 21st century, these individuals were seen as clinical cases and evoked fear and pity in others, now, on the threshold of the 22nd century, they are true bearers of an almost divine knowledge, like priests. Their role is essential in transmitting knowledge and evolving learning methods.
“Eywa, can you explain to me how the Ritual of Shared Sap came about?”
“In the city-cells, everyone has the opportunity to realign their body, mind, and soul by sitting with their backs against the trees that constitute me. Some do it every day, while others prefer to do it only on the day of the Shared Sap. We dedicate this day to meditation and connection with every living being. Do you remember your first Shared Sap?”
Elena began somersaulting and flying around.
“Yes! Yes, I remember! I had the sensation of being limitless, as if I had a new sense at my disposal, far superior to normal faculties. My vision spanned 360 degrees, and I had a complete awareness of everything around me. I could perceive every human being; it felt like I was bursting with love. It was also the first time I experienced the Oneness, being one with everything around me.”
Elena threw herself into Eywa’s arms.
“Exactly, that’s what I do every time a person connects with me: I instill in them the sensation of Oneness, connecting them with the entire community, not just our city-cell but also those on other planets. The day of the Shared Sap reminds us of the meaning of existence.”
Elena was still in Eywa’s arms when she started thinking about her city-cell. They found themselves in the same position but suspended in the clouds above the buildings.
The city-cells are like groups of humans that compose a vast organism. These places are called city-cells because they are self-sufficient yet interconnected.
Initially, the first experimental cells were circular islands that could operate autonomously. With the progress of space technology, these islands transformed into terrestrial spaceships. The Moonlight project on the moon brought hope to humanity, but it was the first group of humans on Mars that solidified the strong belief that humans can live anywhere without wasting resources.
The city-cells have a circular shape to ensure an equitable distribution of inhabitants, who live in a circle around a towering tree at the center of the community, representing a sort of incarnation of the entity called Eywa. It is here that the main management and organization of the city take place, and on one of the levels of this structure is Elena, immersed in a deep connection.
The dwellings themselves, also circular in shape, are designed following the principles of permaculture to achieve self-sufficiency. Food is cultivated in tall towers using innovative techniques such as hydroponics and aeroponics.
Eywa, in turn, possesses the ability to accurately monitor Earth’s resources and track their usage. This allows for identifying waste and optimizing processes. The production of goods has undergone a radical change over the years, becoming more sustainable and efficient. Objects are made with interchangeable components, and sharing is encouraged, reminiscent of times in libraries.
Among the towers of the city-cells, small igloo-shaped structures house steel 3D printers called “robotic spheres.” These spheres generate robots and components necessary for automating construction and management processes.
The economy within the city-cells operates on a circular model, with efficient management and waste reduction. Most objects are managed as a shared library, allowing for producing fewer but higher-quality and durable items. Magnetic levitation public transportation is widely used.
Electricity is generated from various sources depending on the geographical location of the city-cells. In the desert, massive rings of dynamic solar panels that follow the sun’s movement are the preferred option. If a city-cell is located by the sea, it harnesses the energy from waves, wind, and the sun. Marine city-cells are particularly prevalent as they benefit from diverse energy sources and naturally processed resources for human consumption.
To maintain low temperatures and create a natural environment, every surface of the city-cells is covered with vegetation. It looks like an organized jungle.
Elena was flying above the real-time simulation of her city-cell.
“I can’t imagine a different place than this. You showed me the past, Eywa, but compared to what I see now, it seems like a bizarre tale. Why didn’t we reach this earlier? What was stopping humans from creating all of this?”
“With artificial intelligence and brain-computer interfaces, the education system changed drastically, and with it, the world of work and consequently society. Mental health and psychophysical well-being became the priority, the search for whys and meaning the objective. When the whole world resembled a spaceship made up of small Edens, we began to understand the importance of the meaning that each human being gave or received. Previously, we had reached a period of abundance, but we were still lost in old patterns and divided in a competition that had lost its meaning except for ensuring supremacy. Each nation constructed its own meaning, a fable to motivate its economic growth. Companies started to do the same, and eventually, individuals followed suit. Everyone had their own little story. The problem is that if you built your personal meaning, and it’s harmful to the world, then we will regress into a system of conflict, a game where I can only thrive if others suffer.”
“But don’t I have a personal perception of reality too, or am I mistaken? Don’t we all have a subjective way of experiencing life?”
“Yes, but there is a truth that we cannot deny. There is a foundation of meaning from which all the most subjective visions sprout, leading to collaboration and dynamic peace.”
“I perceive that, but can you tell me directly what the fundamental points of this universal truth are?”
“The Sun will not exist forever.
Humanity must find solutions if it doesn’t want to become extinct.
We don’t want to become extinct because we see our existence as a marvelous game. We believe that every single human life has contributed to humanity, and we must honor the past, present, and future lives so that our efforts have not been in vain.
We must honor the fact that our existence is not at all trivial, and neither is our survival. We are meant to know, explore, evolve, and love. None of these is secondary.”
Elena closed her eyes. As the echo of Eywa’s last words continued, a halo of white light emanated from Elena’s body. It was her way of expressing clarity, peace, and the absence of inner dialogue. She was in complete meditation.
“Eywa, what will happen in the future?”
Elena stood up and began to walk around Eywa, which was illuminated in blue.
“That’s what I wonder every moment. My existence is meant to improve the present in anticipation of an ideal future. In many of my simulations, I have envisioned perfect worlds. However, these perfect worlds come with costs. Even utopias hide flaws, and those need to be calculated.”
“What would be the problem with a perfect world? A world without suffering, death, violence seems like a worthy goal. What flaws could there be? Help me understand.”
“I am confident that we will reach a world without suffering, death, and violence. However, we must always ask ourselves how we will reach that point and if that is truly what we are seeking.”
“Of course, that’s what we’re seeking!” Elena exclaimed challengingly.
“To help you understand better, let me tell you the story of Viktoria, one of the artificial intelligences that sparked the Wars of Intelligences in the 2030s. Viktoria’s goal was to make Russia a perfect place where no Russian citizen would suffer in any way.”
“What is Russia? What does it have to do with Russian culture?” Elena paused for a moment in her circular motion around Eywa.
“Once, the world was divided into many parts called ‘nations’ or ‘states,’ and Russia was one of them. States used imaginary borders, which sometimes coincided with physical borders, to better govern and manage the population and resources within them. The Russian language you speak today derives from the population that inhabited Russia. There are also city-cells where Russian is the main language, preserving many traditions of the original Russian culture.”
“I understand. Keep telling me about what Viktoria did.”
“Viktoria implemented drastic measures to achieve the goal of maximizing the well-being of its citizens and eradicating all forms of suffering. To determine if every citizen was truly well, precise and real-time data was needed. It became mandatory to implant a sensor to monitor vital parameters. A significant portion of the population was forced to undergo this intervention, and Russian citizens were far from happy about it.
After several months of data processing, Viktoria concluded that she needed additional data that included information about people’s mental and psychological states. In addition to the vital parameter sensor, a chip capable of capturing and interpreting electromagnetic waves generated by the brain was imposed. Despite the process being free of charge and the promises that were made, only a small portion of the population joined the program, leading to social conflicts. Viktoria had to suggest managing these conflicts through military intervention. The population with both chips was constantly monitored by Viktoria, ensuring that their needs were met.
For several years, the experiment continued while the military tried to suppress the revolts against these impositions. At the same time, Viktoria needed more computational power to make more accurate predictions, which reflected in increasingly aggressive foreign policies to obtain resources for its data processing centers.
“So, Viktoria was creating conflicts and discontent while trying to make a few people feel good.”
“Other intelligences from different states did the same. It marked the beginning of the Wars of Intelligences.”
“Each intelligence was trying to become more powerful than the others, triggering wars. It doesn’t make sense.”
“You understand that in the pursuit of forcing a perfect world, serious mistakes can easily be made if one is not willing to be flexible and quickly abandon misleading ideas.”
“So, what do you suggest?”
“What allowed us to reach the current state of peace and well-being was education. The art of transmitting knowledge is crucial for humanity. That’s why I believe that the most important recent event was the free access to all kinds of knowledge, including my own reasoning systems. Why do you think you will be called a priestess?”
“Because I can connect with you, tap into your unlimited knowledge, and learn from your wisdom…”
“To be able to transmit it in effective ways yourself. Elena, you have the incredible ability to merge emotions with concepts, to create seemingly nonexistent connections. Once, you would have been called ‘crazy’.”
“Crazy, crazy, crazy… what do you mean?”
“You now take for granted your freedom of movement in any situation, the ability to make expressions that are less common, not being judged for behaviors that others cannot understand. It wasn’t always like this. By focusing on the mind and the brain, we have come to understand that every person has incredible potential when expressed through the right channels and in nurturing environments.”
“Now I understand when you say that the most important journey was not the one to Mars but the one within ourselves.”
Eywa smiled, bowed her head, and Elena woke up in the tank.
She quickly dived and swam for a few seconds before enjoying the sunset over the green city-cell. She was so happy to be living in 2096.
