Immortal AI, mortal life: long-term perspectives on the evolution rates of artificial intelligence and human intelligence

Human intelligence is experiential, intuitive, and adaptable, while artificial intelligence is data-driven, algorithmic, and task-specific. These key differences have been well described, but the long-term implications that follow from their different rates and modes of evolution remain underexamined. This Perspective argues that biological cognition accumulates knowledge slowly, whereas silicon-based systems can preserve information at scales and speeds that far exceed human capacities. Furthermore, human intelligence is bounded by mortality and generational transmission, whereas artificial intelligence can persist through evolutionary timescales. We outline how these asymmetries matter for the future of knowledge, framed through three lenses - biologist, researcher, and educator. We synthesize current examples to illustrate the impact of artificial intelligence on human knowledge and education, and conclude with design principles that cultivate diverse and durable knowledge creation and retention.